Forget about the state budget, the marriage wars will begin in 2009

Yep, for all the heat and noise the budget will bring, what will be even more intense at times is the push for Gay Marriage in the state. Rep John Marty is introducing a bill this session to make it legal, while other anti-marriage forces are going to revive their amendment push. I support Marty's bill in principle, it is all a matter of timing. I am glad they are taking a long view of it. What this movement needs to do is be patient, and study what happened in Wisconsin with Fair Wisconsin and with Prop 8 with California. Time and demographics are on their side if they are patient. It will get pretty mean and below the belt with the anti-groups (new Catholic Archbishop will make himself a focus in this to get his next promotion sooner than later to Rome as a Cardinal).

http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/36354354.html

Between 2004 and 2006, gay marriage opponents spearheaded the political conversation in Minnesota, pushing bills to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot that marriage is a union of a man and a woman only. The bills never got out of the Legislature.

In 2009, supporters of same-sex marriage hope to take the offensive, with a bill by Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, to legalize it, a Senate hearing to discuss it, and a statewide educational campaign that they hope will help Minnesotans warm to the idea.

OutFront Minnesota, the state's largest group pressing gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality, says same-sex marriage will become its top priority next year. To lead that effort, the group will announce today that Amy Johnson will become its new executive director, replacing Ann DeGroot, who left a year ago.
....

Opponents of gay and lesbian marriage say they welcome OutFront's campaign. "To John Marty and their proponents, I say bring it on," said state Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove. "I'd love to have that discussion in the next election." He said most Minnesotans oppose gay marriage.

How frigging long do you think we should be patient; five more years, ten, twenty? Should my partner and I have to be patient for the rest of our lives (which by the way is getting closer and closer)? We've waited most of our 54 years of life to gain our civil and legal rights. How much longer do you think we need to be PATIENT?

I don't think patience is what is needed anymore.

but this ain't going to get 'er done.
It's going to bring the culture warriors out in force, a ton of money will be spent by religious groups and people are going to hate each other even more than they do now.
See California Prop. 8 for an example.

I don't have any better ideas except to start smaller with civil unions with legal rights.

If we have learned anything from the grassroots organizing of Obama, and the failure of Prop 8 in California, it is that we can't sit idly by. We HAVE to get out in force to educate. Look at Massachusetts! It has been legal there for quite a while now and the world has not come to an end.

bring it on!!!!!!!!

And outside the Metro it support does drop off quickly. While Prop 8 was close, Wisconsin went 2-1 against it in 2006 when they passed their amendment. All areas outside of inner Milwaukee, greater Dane County/Madison, and college areas went heavily for the amendment. Thankfully we had DFL control of one house of the legislature at the time to kill it in committee. The worry is an possible total loss of DFL control of all state offices (Governorship, House, Senate) would leave it wide open for that to be put to vote. I expect seats to be lost over the budget in the next cycle, hopefully not enough to loose control, but only time will tell.

Right now there needs to be a moderate, realistic campaign to safeguard any future amendment push (which will come, no doubt about it. :puke: :crazy:

I figure California will be ready for it within 5 years, but it may take 10-15 more years in Minnesota, for a generational shift of acceptance. It will be the same in Wisconsin but they have a higher barrier to overturn their amendment which we do not have (thankfully).

I see Marty's bill as a trial balloon at best, but already Archbishop Niendstedt has responded to it in his weekly editorial in the Catholic Spirit, ( http://thecatholicspirit.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=968&Itemid=108 ) :puke: so there is a hair trigger with the opposition over this as they are still licking their wounds from the 2008 election and will use this to inspire their demoralized base.



It is best to study up on California and Wisconsin in any future moves.

http://www.noonprop8.com/

http://www.fairwisconsin.com/

Enough's (more than) enough.

Will it? :shrug: