I'm honestly shocked that I picked "exercising your public voice" as my first blog post topic. My friends can tell you that I'm usually the last one to comment on high-profile topics. I don't like debate, and I don't like the possibility of offending people with my opinion. However, when it comes to the hot topic of same-sex marriage, I am willing to open up a bit. I understand that everyone is completely entitled to their views, but I truly have a hard time understanding why there are Minnesotans who don't support same-sex marriage. This issue is especially relevant today, when the Minnesota Senate is voting on a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. This afternoon's debate can be viewed on a live stream here.
So why do I support same-sex marriage? Because I believe that all human beings should be granted the same freedom to marry. The personal and religious views of random publics should not dictate whether two men or two women get married. I, along with many supporters of this movement, believe that the decision to get married belongs to the two people in a relationship. It should not be dictated by a church or any other group.
A lot of my updates on the Minnesota fight for same-sex marriage come from Facebook pages like Minnesotans United for All Families. During the past few days leading up to the Senate vote, the organization has urged its followers to email their state senators with encouragement to vote "yes" on the bill. By following their directions, people like me were able to find their senator and send them a message. MN4AllFamilies even composed an email that could be sent as-is or personalized. Here is the text they suggested:
This is a truly historic time for our state, and as your constituent I urge you to support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in the Senate on Monday.
I was thrilled to see the bipartisan vote in the Minnesota House on Thursday! Now, you have the chance to help make Minnesota the next state to allow same-sex couples the freedom to marry. The future of thousands of families in our state lies in your hands.
Same-sex couples and their families have waited too long to be treated equally by their government. You have an incredible opportunity to make a state a more free and fair place today, and I hope you'll take advantage of it.
Please, vote YES and support the basic freedom to marry for same-sex couples.
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In case there is any doubt about my stance on this topic, here is a picture of the pumpkin I carved last Halloween--I was encouraging friends to vote NO on the constitutional amendment of Minnesota's definition of marriage:
Erin,
ReplyDeleteWe are now the 12th State to allow same-sex marriage! I am with you in that everyone should be allowed to have equality in marriage. I try to look at the different points of view with an open mind and I can see some of the religious belief behind opposition, I can also see the financial reason as well as the criminal (insurance fraud) reasons, but our society is every evolving and progressing. Case in point - at one point in history my marriage would have been illegal in some states (Non-white w/ White).
In 2010 Mississippi finally took off their laws the illegality of a white person marryiing a black person. Yes, is said 2010. I know that law was based on race/rascism, but discrimination comes in many shapes and forms.
You won!
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