Minnesota Lawyer
Sign at anti gay marriage rally (staff photo: Peter Bartz-Gallagher)
Families and religious groups flocked to the state Capitol on Thursday to voice their opposition to legalizing gay marriage in Minnesota.
Hundreds gathered for the afternoon rally in the rotunda to push back against the recent introduction of bills to legalize same-sex marriage. The rally was held at the same time House and Senate members were holding floor sessions. The event was organized by Minnesota for Marriage, which campaigned last fall in favor of a failed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.
Protesters mostly carried neon pink signs that read, “One man + one woman,” “Don’t lie to children” and “Keep moms and dads in MN public policy.” Several other banners said, “It would be foolish to redefine marriage,” and “Legalizing homosexuality induce children to gay relationships.”
“Children deserve the chance to have both a mother and a father. Supporters of same-sex marriage want us to think [gay marriage] is inevitable,” National Organization for Marriage (NOM) President Brian Brown said. “We will never stop fighting for the truth.”
Brown, who has already vowed to spend $500,000 on behalf of NOM against any Minnesota Republican who votes in favor of same-sex marriage, said supporters of gay marriage do not have the votes to pass the bill. “They don’t have the votes, and that’s because folks like you are calling your legislators,” he said.
Republican legislators were at the rally to show their support, including Reps. Glenn Gruenhagen, Peggy Scott, Michael Beard and Sen. Dan Hall. The gay marriage debate is about to ramp up in St. Paul; the bill will be heard in the House Civil Law and Senate Judiciary committees next week.
