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Thousands gather at State Capitol to support marriage amendment
by Dave Bohon A crowd of several thousand gathered on the lawn of the State Capitol April 20th to show their support for a proposed state constitutional amendment that would define marriage as only between a man and a woman. The amendment has passed the Republican controlled state House of Representatives, but remains bottled up in committee in the DFL controlled Senate. It must pass both houses and go to the people of Minnesota for approval before being added to the state constitution. Among those speaking to the crowd of supporters, estimated at between 2,00 and 3,000, was Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who noted that in a world of constant, tumultuous change, “marriage between a man and a woman is something that should not change. It’s foundational to our society.” He explained that unlike other states which have passed defense of marriage constitutional amendments through citizen referendums, in Minnesota such an amendment must pass through the State Legislature before it can be placed on the ballot for a vote by the people. “The folks who are standing in the way are in the Minnesota Senate,” said Pawlenty, referring to the DFL Senate leadership which has prevented the amendment from reaching the floor of the Senate for a vote. Tony Perkins, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research Council, said that the importance of protecting traditional marriage could be summed up with one word: “Children.” By legalizing same-sex marriage – and by extension homosexual parenting – “for the first time in law and public policy we would be denying children either a mother or a father,” warned Perkins. “We want to take a stand for marriage because public policy has the power to shape our culture. And the best environment for children is to be raised with a mom and a dad who are in a lifelong relationship together. That’s what public policy should work toward.” While some observers have given up on passage of the amendment for this year, amendment proponents were hoping for the opportunity to continue pushing for its passage if Gov. Pawlenty calls a special session to wrap up budget business in the legislature. “We’re still hopeful,” said John Helmberger, executive director of the Minnesota Family Council and a state leader in the amendment effort. “A special session certainly would offer the best opportunity for passage now, and we’re planning for that contingency. “But if that doesn’t happen we’re optimistic we’ll get the amendment passed next year in time for the people to approve it on the 2006 ballot. That’s what we’ve said all along: Let the people vote.” Helmberger explained that DFL senators who have been obstacles to the amendment’s passage will be up for re-election in 2006. “Our own survey shows that a sizeable percentage of Minnesotans would not be inclined to re-elect an incumbent senator who voted against their clear wishes to defend marriage in Minnesota.” In addition, the survey shows that 63 percent of Minnesotans believe they should have the opportunity to vote on the marriage amendment; and 61 percent say they would vote in favor of it. |
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Minnesota Family Council / Minnesota Family Institute 2855 Anthony Lane South, Minneapolis MN, 55418-3265 Phone 612.789.8811, FAX 612.789.8858, www.mfc.org |