"Where Olmsted County News Comes First"
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Sunday, May 19th, 2013
Volume ∞ Issue ∞
- 5:36:49, May 15th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Though I hated to see you reference Glenn Beck by name [Three Times ... [Read More]
- 11:42:07, May 10th 2013 - yenken - I feel very sorry for those who have commented do far, as when you stand fa ... [Read More]
- 12:10:25, Apr 26th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Mr. "Cabtrom's" garbage-out[burst]--in response to Ms. Reisner's w ... [Read More]
- 9:51:50, Apr 24th 2013 - jeff pischke - To Jerry Grehl, the number to the fillmore county sheriffs office is 7 ... [Read More]
- 9:27:24, Apr 22nd 2013 - Cabtrom - Blah blah blah, garbage in garbage out! ... [Read More]
- 7:00:49, Apr 11th 2013 - Donald Pierce - Col. Stan Gudmundson hit most of the important nails squarly on the h ... [Read More]
- 12:44:54, Apr 4th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - My compliments to Ms. Hammer for giving us well-crafted "Rachel Rea ... [Read More]
- 5:09:06, Apr 3rd 2013 - truthiness - I see this is dated April 1. That explains it! ... [Read More]
- 12:04:33, Apr 3rd 2013 - Frank W. Hawthorne - Say WHAT?!? Stan's American-Pie [In SKY] is Falling--Not Again? ... [Read More]
- 12:40:21, Mar 29th 2013 - Jacob - It's a shame that so few people care about making their voices heard. If we ... [Read More]
12
Should employers be able to make employment decisions based on what they find on your Facebook profile?
Mayor Brede, local leaders come out against marriage amendment
Mon, Sep 24th, 2012
Posted in Rochester Government
Posted in Rochester Government
Comments
Left to right: Rev. Bob Havens, Rev. Carol Hepokoski, Stephanie Podulke, Vangie Castro, Dr. Kathryn Stolp, and Mayor Brede. Photo by Nate Langworthy
Thirteen Minnesota communities have officially signified their opposition to the proposed marriage amendment to define marriage as solely between a man and a woman. While the Rochester city council will most likely not weigh in on the issue, Mayor Ardell Brede and other local leaders gathered to urge voters to reject the initiative and vote no.
“The Constitution is there to protect our rights, not take them away,” said Brede in a statement at Minnesotans United for All Families headquarters. “When we have people who are committed to one another, I just don’t understand why we would deny them that right.”
Beyond civil liberties, Brede sees marriage equality as an economic issue. Noting major corporations that have been openly supportive of GLBTQ rights, expressing a desire to create a more inclusive community that is likely to attract and retain a wider array of talent. Commitment to a welcoming and diverse community was a frontline argument for adoption of the city’s domestic partnership registry in July of 2010.
Recent polling shows divided sentiment over the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would limit the state’s definition of marriage to one solely between heterosexual couples.
Brede is hopeful that Minnesota can lead the way towards marriage equality by becoming the first state to reject a proposed amendment limiting marriage to heterosexuals. Since 1998, 30 states have voted to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. No ballot measure has failed. Recent polling has shown a virtual tie among Minnesota voters on the ballot initiative.
Joining Brede in opposition to the marriage amendment were county commissioner Stephanie Podulke, Dr. Kathryn Stolp, Vangie Castro, Dr. Carol Hepokoski of First Unitarian Universalist Church, and retired United Methodist minister Bob Havens.
“It’s clear that the nation, the state, and our county know that we should not treat people differently because of their sexual orientation,” said Podulke. “I see that marriage is about love, commitment, and responsibility. My love is not diminished by someone else’s love.”
Mayor Brede commented that he found it odd that laws regarding ordination of clergy are so lax that anyone could be certified in minutes to marry couples, but same-sex couples who have been together for years cannot get married. The two clergy members in attendance spoke of the commitment they have seen in the same-sex couples they have gotten to know.
“Throughout the decades, we’ve been able to see that these were marriages in every sense of the word,” said Hepokoski.
“The Constitution is there to protect our rights, not take them away,” said Brede in a statement at Minnesotans United for All Families headquarters. “When we have people who are committed to one another, I just don’t understand why we would deny them that right.”
Beyond civil liberties, Brede sees marriage equality as an economic issue. Noting major corporations that have been openly supportive of GLBTQ rights, expressing a desire to create a more inclusive community that is likely to attract and retain a wider array of talent. Commitment to a welcoming and diverse community was a frontline argument for adoption of the city’s domestic partnership registry in July of 2010.
Recent polling shows divided sentiment over the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would limit the state’s definition of marriage to one solely between heterosexual couples.
Brede is hopeful that Minnesota can lead the way towards marriage equality by becoming the first state to reject a proposed amendment limiting marriage to heterosexuals. Since 1998, 30 states have voted to place a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. No ballot measure has failed. Recent polling has shown a virtual tie among Minnesota voters on the ballot initiative.
Joining Brede in opposition to the marriage amendment were county commissioner Stephanie Podulke, Dr. Kathryn Stolp, Vangie Castro, Dr. Carol Hepokoski of First Unitarian Universalist Church, and retired United Methodist minister Bob Havens.
“It’s clear that the nation, the state, and our county know that we should not treat people differently because of their sexual orientation,” said Podulke. “I see that marriage is about love, commitment, and responsibility. My love is not diminished by someone else’s love.”
Mayor Brede commented that he found it odd that laws regarding ordination of clergy are so lax that anyone could be certified in minutes to marry couples, but same-sex couples who have been together for years cannot get married. The two clergy members in attendance spoke of the commitment they have seen in the same-sex couples they have gotten to know.
“Throughout the decades, we’ve been able to see that these were marriages in every sense of the word,” said Hepokoski.
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