I took a half day at work today so I could head down to the Capitol. When I found out yesterday that Governor Dayton was signing the marriage bill today at 5 pm, I knew I had to be there.
It was 98 degrees. I stood in a massive crowd for an hour and a half. It smelled like melting sunscreen and felt like magic. Starting August 1, same-sex couples will be able to get married in Minnesota.
Nice work, Minnesota. Now let’s keep moving forward.
Two years ago, during the gubernatorial elections, I took Darren to our polling place. There, he registered and voted for the very first time.
I wonder how much longer same-day registration will still be a possibility in Minnesota. Or in any of the other states where it’s allowed.
Regardless, I was proud of Darren for finally taking the time to exercise his right to vote. I admit I was also proud of myself for convincing him to do it. He… may have written my name in as his choice for governor, but he did make legitimate choices in the other categories, so we’ll call it a win.
I love voting. I was so excited for my first election, and I’ve voted in every one since.
This election cycle has been an emotional one. For me, that’s largely due to the proposed marriage amendment that’s on Minnesota’s ballot today. Maine, Maryland, and Washington all have marriage -related initiatives on theirs as well.
I had a pretty long diatribe all typed up, but it’s nothing new. The gist is that I’m angry about this. Never mind that in Minnesota, it’s not even about illegal versus legal. We’re not even there yet. But the fact still remains: those who vote YES today are opposed to marriage equality. And I just don’t get it.
Contrary to some apparent beliefs, marriage is in fact a civil right. And I have actual friends who want to deny that right to fellow Americans. To their own friends. Some people try to make religious arguments, others seem to think that family values are at stake, or maybe both. These arguments are so flawed and so, so hurtful. It makes me see red. It makes me ashamed to call them my friends. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it here: everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I’m entitled to my opinion that theirs is shitty.
Tonight, after we get home from work, my husband and I are walking the one block to our polling place. We’ll choose our candidates, vote on some referendums, make our choice regarding voter ID (for the record, I’m a no), and then we’ll vote NO on the marriage amendment. Because we hope that some day we’ll be able to stand next to each our friends – just like they did for us – and support them in their legal marriages to the people they love.
If you live in Minnesota and you think the marriage amendment moving through our legislature right now is BS, I urge you to call and/or email the members of the House Rules Committee. They’ll be deciding whether or not the amendment makes it to the House floor. OutFront Minnesota lists contact info for every member of the committee, and has a nice form letter you can use or base your own letter from.
Also, while you’re at it, definitely check out the Myths section of the site.
People say they’re opposed to marriage equality because the Bible opposes it. I pulled a Jed Bartlet and wrote:
Leviticus 18:22 says homosexuality is an abomination. Okay, well, Exodus 21:7 says a man can sell his daughter into slavery and Exodus 35:2 says a man should be put to death for working on the Sabbath. The Bible condemns divorce, eating pork, and calling your brother a fool, but it accepts slavery and sexism, among other things. For all the things the Bible says we should not do that we now disregard, why draw the line at allowing two consenting adults to marry?
All I really want to know is this: how is it that allowing two consenting adults to marry could possibly destroy the sanctity of my marriage? I know a couple dudes who have been in a committed relationship (with each other, obvs) for like twenty years now. And giving them marriage rights is somehow going to ruin mine? Someone explain this to me, please. Seriously. I don’t get it. There is absolutely no logic to this argument and I cannot believe people are still trying to use it.
I’m going to end this post before it gets too rage-filled. But please, write our representatives.
fearlessly, myself. 