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MN: Father of Gay Soldier Runs for State House on Equality Platform

Saturday, March 3rd, 2012

Jeff Wilfahrt is an unassuming man who has more than served his citizenry. He testified before the Minnesota state legislature against passing a constitutional amendment defining marriage as “between a man and a woman only,” supported the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” (DADT), and lost his son in an American war.

Yet his lifelong sense of parity compels him further, and he is now running for the Minnesota State House of Representatives, in a candidacy that has national implications for equality.

Wilfahrt is running in District 57B, a seat currently held by Republican Kurt Bills, a staunch pro-lifer, a self acclaimed “non-environmentalist,” who voted for the anti-gay marriage amendment.

Full Story from SDGLN

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: equality, father, gay soldier, house of representatives, minnesota

MN: Lutherans Oppose Marriage Equality Ban

Saturday, February 18th, 2012

Minneapolis-area Lutherans on Friday went on record against changing the state Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.

Their vote made them one of the largest faith groups yet to formally oppose the amendment that will go before voters Nov. 6, which would ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota. Close to 700 Lutherans, representing congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, voted on a resolution opposing the amendment at the group’s annual assembly at a Prior Lake church.

When the vote was called, those in favor of the resolution flashed green cards with the word “yes.” Those against it waved red cards that said “no.” The greens overwhelmed the reds, and no formal tally was called for by synod leaders.

Full Story from the Star Tribune

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: lutherans, minneapolis. gay marriage ban, minnesota

MN: Senate Panel Declines to Pull Marriage Equality Ban Referendum

Friday, February 17th, 2012

A Minnesota Senate panel on Wednesday voted down a resolution which would repeal a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state, The Pioneer Press reported.

The amendment, approved last year by the Republican-controlled Legislature and slated to be voted on during the November general election, would define marriage in the state as a heterosexual union.

During a Local Government and Elections Committee hearing debating an unrelated photo ID ballot question, Democratic Senator Mary Jo McGuire offered an amendment to the bill which would remove the gay marriage question from the 2012 ballot.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: ban, Gay Marriage, minnesota, senate panel

MN: Rabbis Oppose Marriage Equality Ban

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

The Minnesota Rabbinical Association, made up of 35 rabbis representing 15 synagogues and the majority of the state’s Jewish population, has come out against the proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

The rabbis’ resolved that “throughout history, the Jewish community has faced discrimination, and therefore we will not stand by while others are targeted.” Orthodox rabbis did not sign the coalition’s statement.

Full Story from Think Progress

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: ban, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, minnesota, rabbis

MN: Catholic Church Funds Anti Marriage Equality Amendment

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

The Catholic Archdiocese of Minneapolis & St. Paul and the Catholic Dioceses of New Ulm contributed $700,000 last year to support an anti-gay Minnesota constitutional amendment.

The church claims that money has not come from contributions it has received through its parishes, but from investment income.

The constitutional amendment defining marriage between one man and one woman, effectively banning gay or lesbian marriage, is scheduled to be on this November’s general election ballot. Half of that money, $350,000 has been donated to Minnesota For Marriage which is spearheading the push to get the constitutional amendment approved.

Full Story from The Uptake

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: ban, catholic church, funding, Gay Marriage, minnesota

MN: HRC Asks Minnesota to Investigate NOM Financial Activity in State

Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) today released an analysis of campaign disclosure reports – made public today in Minnesota – that reveal the National Organization for Marriage has launched an unprecedented effort to avoid disclosing individual donors as required by law.

Such secrecy once again reveals NOM is not a grassroots organization but serves the interest of a handful of wealthy anti-gay donors. HRC urges the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board to investigate NOM’s financial activity around the Minnesota ballot measure.

Reports filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Disclosure Board reveal that marriage equality opponents received only seven individual donations and one donation from a family estate. However, they have raised more than $1.2 million from just three entities: $750,000 contributed by the Minnesota Catholic Conference, $250,000 by the National Organization for Marriage and $226,000 by the Minnesota Family Council.

Full Story from SDGLN

Click here for gay wedding resources in Minnesota.

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Tags: elections commission, hrc, minnesota, nom, spending

MN: Gay Rights Advocates Raise $1.2 Million to Fight Marriage Equality Ban

Monday, January 30th, 2012

The lead LGBT advocacy group opposing an amendment to Minnesota’s state constitution barring gay marriage has raised $1.2 million for its campaign.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports the 2011 figures comprised donations from more than 5,100 pro-marriage equality individuals, including Minnesota Twins owner James Pohlad and Bruce Dayton, father of Minnesota governor and former senator Mark Dayton.

Full Story from The Advocate

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Tags: ban, fight, Gay Marriage, marriage equality, minnesota

MN: New Poll Shows Voters Closely Divided on Marriage Equality

Saturday, January 28th, 2012

Voters in Minnesota are divided on a proposed constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a heterosexual union.

According to a Public Policy Polling survey released Friday, 48 percent of voters support the amendment while 44 percent are opposed. Eight percent said they were not sure.

However, a large majority (71%) of respondents said the relationships of gay and lesbian couples should be recognized with either marriage (37%) or civil unions (34%). Twenty-seven percent said there should be no legal recognition of a gay couple’s relationship.

Full Story From On Top Magazine

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Tags: Gay Marriage, marriage equality, minnesota, poll

MN: Groups Prepare to Fight Marriage Equality Ban

Friday, January 27th, 2012

With nine months before Minnesota voters weigh in on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, LGBT leaders and equality-minded politicians are preparing a defense.

The St. Paul City Council passed a resolution Wednesday opposing the ballot initiative. Six of the seven council members sponsored the resolution, leading to easy passage. One member abstained from voting, saying, “It’s not my issue.”

Meanwhile, a recent court decision will allow a marriage equality lawsuit to move forward. The case, brought by three LGBT couples wanting to marry in the state, may embolden conservatives pushing for a voter-approved ban.

Full Story From The Advocate

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Tags: ban, fight, marriage equality, minnesota

MN: Appeals Court Breathes Life Back Into Marriage Equality Lawsuit

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

A Minnesota appeals court today ruled that District Judge Mary Dufresne wrongfully dismissed a 2010 lawsuit brought by three gay couples when she rejected the couples’ claims on the basis of Baker vs. Nelson, a 1971 Minnesota Supreme Court decision that said limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples does not violate the U.S. Constitution.

The Star-Tribune reports:
In the 15-page unpublished ruling, the Appeals Court ruled that Dufresne was right when she threw out the suit because the state was not an eligible defendant and because it did not violate the couples’ religious freedom, but that she improperly relied on the Baker case. The couples should be granted an opportunity in district court to prove their rights were violated, Judge Renee L. Worke wrote.

“…Even if the right to marry is not considered a fundamental right, appellants should have been granted an opportunity to show that MN DOMA is not a reasonable means to its stated objective — to promote opposite-sex marriages to encourage procreation,” Worke wrote.

Full Story from Towleroad

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Tags: appeals court, lawsuit, marriage equality, minnesota, ruling