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Equal crowd rallies for an equal right
BY RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER
Pioneer Press

From www.twincities.com
Posted on Fri, Mar. 26, 2004

SCOTT TAKUSHI, PIONEER PRESS

Alisha Nehring, left, and her partner, Chris Brawner, both of Minneapolis, joined about 3,500 people Thursday to show opposition to a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Bearing rainbow balloons, lapel pins and a demand for fairness, about 3,500 people demonstrated at the Minnesota state Capitol on Thursday against a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

"We have faith that love is stronger than hatred," Rabbi Stacy Offner, of Minneapolis' Temple Shir Tikvah, told the crowd of gay and lesbian men and women and their straight allies.

The demonstration was part of a week of action on a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman. On Monday, about 3,000 supporters of the amendment rallied at the Capitol. On Wednesday, the House approved the measure. And today, a Senate committee takes up the bill.

The Senate committee is expected to defeat the measure, which could prevent it from going before voters in November. Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, says she will keep fighting for it even if the panel defeats the measure. Supporters say the amendment would defend marriage from activist judges who would legalize gay marriage in Minnesota.

Demonstrators on Thursday said the amendment was discriminatory, unfair and just plain stupid.

"Fifty percent divorce rate is 'sanctity?' queried one sign.

"Solomon had 700 wives. I want only 1," stated another.

Former Gov. Jesse Ventura sent a message to the demonstration through Ann DeGroot of OutFront Minnesota, a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group.

"Love is bigger than government," he said. "We are not the Hetero States of America. America should be inclusive."

The idea for the Minnesota amendment, like more than a dozen others across the country, came in the wake of a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling that banning gay marriage was unconstitutional. Massachusetts, like Minnesota, has a state law defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

Wanda Brown and Phyllis Goldin of River Falls, Wis., came to rally and proclaim their own marriage. The couple, who have been together for 30 years, wore placards declaring themselves "just married."

They married in Victoria, British Columbia, on March 11. They took issue with those who say gay marriages threaten the foundation of society.

"We didn't notice that it threatened Canadian society," Goldin said.

A recent St. Paul Pioneer Press/Minnesota Public Radio poll found the majority of Minnesotans oppose gay marriage, but voters here are split on the idea of a constitutional amendment to ban it. The overwhelming majority of the Minnesota House, however, supported the constitutional amendment in a vote Wednesday.

After Thursday's rally, Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, told her House colleagues that their gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual constituents still had hope.

Even if the measure fails in the committee hearing today, proponents could find ways to bring it to a vote in the full Senate. But it is unclear how that vote would go.

Those against the amendment voiced their opposition Thursday not just with their large rally but also in a series of smaller demonstrations.

Throughout the day, hundreds of those who came to rally met with House and Senate representatives to make their stories heard and viewpoints known. About 75 percent of lawmakers heard from constituents in their districts against the amendment in small meetings Thursday, according to organizers from OutFront Minnesota.

When several constituents of Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, spoke to him in the marble hallways of the Senate, he told them that he appreciated hearing from them but that they didn't change his mind.

"Thanks for coming down, even though we don't agree. I hope you feel you can call me anytime," said Nienow.

"Just think about it. Remember what we said," responded one man. "And be fair."

TODAY

The House measure that would ask voters to amend the constitution to ban gay marriage comes up in the Senate Judiciary Committee at 12:30 p.m., Room 15, Capitol. The bill, HF2798, is online at www.leg.state.mn.us.

Rachel E. Stassen-Berger can be reached at
rstassen-berger@pioneerpress.com.

Copyright © 2004, Knight Ridder Inc.