Signs reading âĂ„ĂşLegalize LoveâĂ„Ăą and âĂ„ĂşDefend All MarriagesâĂ„Ăą scattered the St. Paul Capitol grounds Thursday âĂ„Ă® âĂ„ĂşFreedom to Marry DayâĂ„Ăą âĂ„Ă® as state representatives, political group leaders and GLBTA community members gathered to support the Marriage and Family Act, a bill that would make marriage laws gender neutral in Minnesota. State Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, who co-authored the bill and was the main speaker at the event, said the approval of California âĂ„Ă´s Proposition 8 to dissolve same-sex marriage was mean-spirited. âĂ„ĂşThat action, while itâĂ„Ă´s certainly unfortunate, shows us that itâĂ„Ă´s time to move ahead in Minnesota, and show some leadership in this,âĂ„Ăą Marty said. Representative Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, whose district includes much of the University of Minnesota, spoke at the rally and said this was a progressing movement. âĂ„ĂşOne of the reasons this is moving forward is that people are starting to make connections with friends and family,âĂ„Ăą Kahn said. âĂ„ĂşItâĂ„Ă´s not a strange thing that has nothing to do with them.âĂ„Ăą University junior Kyle Edwards attended the rally as a continuing effort for awareness of GLBT issues. âĂ„ĂşI have a few friends back in high school who first inspired me to work for their first-class citizenship,âĂ„Ăą Edwards said, âĂ„Ăşas opposed to not recognizing their relationships under law.âĂ„Ăą Edwards, a political science major, said personal narratives were the most effective way of raising awareness on GLBT rights. âĂ„ĂşOnce you realize you have friends or family affected by these kinds of things, people are much more likely to see both sides,âĂ„Ăą he said. Kahn also co-authored the bill and introduced it to the state House of Representatives in May. Marty presented the act to the state Senate that same month. âĂ„ĂşWith the economic woes we face in this state right now,âĂ„Ăą Marty said, âĂ„ĂşitâĂ„Ă´s more important than ever that we take away the discrimination against couples.âĂ„Ăą Most states do not recognize same-sex unions. MinnesotaâĂ„Ă´s Legislature first voted unsuccessfully on the authorization in 1997. In 2004, 11 states, including Montana, Georgia and Ohio, amended their state constitutions to ban same-sex marriage. âĂ„ĂşFreedom to Marry DayâĂ„Ăą was organized by OutFront Minnesota as part of a national week-long awareness campaign to push for marriage equality. âĂ„ĂşMy wife and I have been married for 28 years and it hasnâĂ„Ă´t affected anyone elseâĂ„Ă´s marriage. It was our decision,âĂ„Ăą Marty said. âĂ„ĂşWe voted on our marriage. We want you to vote on your own marriages.âĂ„Ăą
Rally for equal marriage rights draws supporters for legislation
The rally was held at the St. Paul Capitol grounds Thursday.
Published February 12, 2009
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