minnesotamarriageamendment

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New years update

I wanted to provide a quick update to my followers and those that may stumble upon this blog.

In NOvember, we defeated the mean-spirited marriage amendment in Minnesota. However, please don't think that my lack of updates means that our work is done. We still have a journey ahead of us in 2013, and for years to come, to help create a culture of equality for committed same-sex couples.

With that said, I've taken a pause from my work here as my father is very sick and my family has been helping to care for him here in Minnesota over the past couple of months. He is currently in a home hospice program and we continue to celebrate each day we have with Dad.

Please know that I appreciate all of the support each of you has provided over the past year. You helped make a big difference, not only in Minnesota, but around the nation in helping Minnesota become the first state to defeat one of these freedom-limiting amendments.

Please don't let your voice be silenced now.

Thank you for everything you've done and will continue to do, -Mark 

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For years, foes of same-sex marriage had a potent talking point: They'd won every time the issue went to a popular vote. That winning streak has now been shattered in a multi-state electoral sweep by gay marriage supporters - a historic tipping point likely to influence other states and possibly even the Supreme Court.

Source: kstp.com

A great article on the marriage amendment vote and overall fight for marriage equality across the nation.

The article also quotes a defeated Brian Brown, President for the National Organization for Marriage:

Our opponents and some in the media will attempt to portray the election results as a changing point in how Americans view gay marriage, but that is not the case.

Clearly, Brown, and others like him, are not going down without a fight. While we may have won the battle on Tuesday, it's clear that the war rages on.

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On Wednesday, Minnesota for Marriage officially conceded defeat and published this letter acknowledging the fact. [Read the letter]

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Check out what one visitor to the site asked me to pass along to Catholic Priest, Mike Tegeder. [more]

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...there's a rally underway to celebrate what amounts to a victory for supporters of gay rights

That's how Randy Meier introduces this 3-minute news story on the United for Our Future Rally that I had the opportunity to attend last night. It was fun to watch this video, as it brought me right back to the energy and emotion of Wednesday night.

Oh, and you get a quick glimpse of the back of my head... *grin* ;)

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In addition to Minnesota, you’ve heard me talk about Maine, Maryland and Washington throughout the past year. Well, I’m happy to officially report that Washington State has finally been called: Washingtonians have stood for equality and voted in favor of same-sex marriage!

That means that each of the four states that voted on marriage equality on Tuesday took a stand on the right side of history!

Here’s a great graphic from TheFour.com that currently graces my Facebook Profile!

Congratulations to all of my friends in Maine, Maryland, Washington and of course, Minnesota.

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Goodnight, Minnesota

After two and a half days with little to no sleep, it's time to crawl into bed and truly rest. In attending the United for Our Future Rally tonight at the State Capitol, I know that I am not the only one going on little sleep.

Thank you to every single person out there that fought tirelessly the past couple of days - and all year, for that matter - to help us achieve what no state has done before us: a defeat on an anti-marriage amendment.

Before I fall into slumber, I wanted to share with you the statement released from Richard Carlbom, Campaign Manager of Minnesotans United, on the win:

Today, the people of Minnesota spoke loudly and clearly and became the first state in the country to defeat this kind of hurtful, freedom-limiting amendment. They said no to limiting the freedom of committed and loving couples in Minnesota, they said no to singling out and excluding one group of people from a basic freedom just because of who they are, and they said no to telling some people it’s illegal to marry the person they love.

The strength of this campaign was our thousands of volunteers, and our broad and diverse coalition of partners. This campaign did something that has never been done before: it brought together people of all faiths, in all communities, and of all political affiliations on the principle that freedom means freedom for everybody. The strength of those who have come together and worked to defeat this amendment was rewarded today, and without their work, this would not have been possible.

This campaign has changed the course of politics in our state forever. Over the course of the last year and a half, we’ve sparked an honest, statewide conversation about why marriage matters and who should have the freedom to participate in it. Today, Minnesotans voted in favor of love, freedom, and fairness – because that’s what this state is about.

For many, faith in what is good has been restored.

Goodnight, Minnesota. -Mark

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One of my friends posted this online earlier today and I was so inspired that I printed my own “thank you!” message and taped it onto my sign.

A simple gesture to those who stood on the side of equality, yesterday.

So if you’re wondering what to do with your Vote No yard sign now that the election is over, here’s an idea that will at least last through the weekend!

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Lots of graphics making an appearance on Facebook today! While this one looks like any other orange and blue image, when you look closer, you see the true power of this graphic. The orange background is made up of real Minnesotans that have fought so hard to defeat this mean-spirited amendment.

We worked side-by-side. We told our stories. We voted.

And together, we helped Minnesota Vote NO.

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No means love in Minnesota. We won

Mayor R.T. Rybak, 11/7/2012 Source: Twitter

Check out the picture he shared with his tweet.

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Minnesota, I'm going to keep this brief for this evening: Congratulations. You stood on the side of equality and said NO to the mean-spirited marriage amendment. Today, you made history. Not only here in the land of 10,000 lakes, but around the world. We are the first state in the nation to defeat one of these mean-spirited measures.

I said early on when I started this blog, "The tide isn't changing, it's already changed." Tonight confirms that belief for me. We celebrate with Maryland and Maine that also voted in favor of equality today and we wait, with excitement, for Washington state to be called on Wednesday.

For all of your support and everything you've done to help defeat this amendment, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

To a new day, Mark 

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Blue and orange mylar balloons, $7. Matching blue and orange plates, napkins utensils, and streamers, $18. Blue and orange hand soaps, $6. Standing up for equality and making history, priceless.

Source: Me.

I can’t image not being with friends tonight as we watch the results come in. If you are still looking for a gathering place, Minnesotans United for All Families has put together a big viewing party. You can learn all about it on their Facebook page.

In just over 3 hours, Minnesota polls will close and we will know what side of history Minnesota will fall on…

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It’s no surprise to see complaints rolling in from both sides of the amendment fight about election materials being too close to polling places. Turns out the Catholic Church left up banners and prayers supporting the amendment in at least two locations. According to SFGate:

A spokesman for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis says signs supporting the proposed amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota were left up at two churches by mistake.

In another case, a banner supporting the amendment was up at Saint John Vianney Catholic Church in South St. Paul. Accurso says staff tried to remove it before polls opened, but it wouldn’t come down.

Both signs are now removed.

On the other side of the amendment fight, amendments supporters filed a whistle blower report on the Star Tribune because a vehicle that had been “wrapped” with Vote No was parked near a polling place.

A truck for Minnesota Families United has been parked directly in front of the front entrance to the polling place all day.

According to the Star Tribune article, the van was no longer parked at that location as of 3pm.

Minnesota law prohibits campaign materials from being displayed within 100 feet of a polling location.

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Yesterday, Workday Minnesota shared an article featuring quotes from several union leaders as to why they are voting no on the mean-spirited marriage amendment:

“People ask, ‘why is labor coming out against this? — It’s a social issue,’” acknowledges Mark Bradley, Roseville, a member of two unions, SAG-AFTRA and Actors Equity. He offers a ready answer: “It affects our members directly. It affects their benefits. It affects our members’ personal lives.”

Another quote shared focuses on the fact that unions have a history of standing up for civil rights:

“The labor movement has long stood in support of civil rights for all people and this case is no different,” says Bill Heaney, St. Anthony Village, legislative and political director for the IBEW Minnesota State Council, which opposes the marriage amendment. He adds, “everything I was taught growing up from my folks reinforces how wrong it is.”

It’s a longer article, but it’s full of examples of different organizations standing up for equality and voting NO on the mean-spirited marriage amendment.

The coalition built across this state is strong; may the work that has been done up to this point help us defeat this freedom-limiting amendment!

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Good morning, Minnesota. Your polls are now open!

If you need one last refresher on where you vote, you can find links on the Voting Information page.

To all of the volunteers for Minnesotans United, good luck out there today!

Vote No!

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If you need a final jolt of motivation going into today, check out this great Vote No Minnesota video posted on YouTube.

If it made you smile, reblog and share with your followers, too!

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My very personal final plea

Sharing with you a personal note that I posted on Facebook this early morning. May you be blessed with the same love and support that I'm fortunate to receive every single day.

Friends and family,

Today, Minnesota has the chance to make history. We have an opportunity to say NO to amending our state constitution in a way that would limit the rights of committed same-sex couples. Whether you realize it or not, in a way, you are voting on me. In less than 24 hours, Minnesota will have had the chance to say whether or not I should permanently be prohibited from marrying the man that I love (who I hope to meet one day!).

While I don't often talk about how this discussion impacts ME personally, I want you to know that the fact that we even have to have this conversation hurts me deeply. To know that there are Minnesotans who believe that if I have the right to marry someone I love, people will someday want to marry sheep... Words cannot express how deeply that hurts. Tonight on Nicollet Mall, I was told that I will burn in Hell for eternity for my "sin of homosexuality." In a moment, I was reminded that I may forever be deemed less than in the state of Minnesota if this amendment passes.

Fortunately, I've been surrounded in my life by a wall of love and support that helps deflect some of those words. I'm blessed to know tremendous allies who support me unconditionally. I have been reminded time and time again, that no matter what happens today, we've changed hearts and minds in Minnesota and that we've touched history for the better. For that support - and for all you do - I say thank you.

We have the ability to defeat this thing; it's well within reach. But no matter the outcome, I know that you will be there with open arms to support me. And for that, I consider myself tremendously blessed.

Minnesotans, it's my last ask. Please, Vote No on the mean-spirited marriage amendment. When you do, smile, and think of all of the people just like me that are relying on your strength and support at that very moment.

With love (and hope), -Mark