MPR’s Rupa Shenoy looks at what’s next in efforts to bring about same-sex marriage legislation in Minnesota. Shenoy collects various commentary from numerous activists and politicians.
MPR’s Rupa Shenoy looks at what’s next in efforts to bring about same-sex marriage legislation in Minnesota. Shenoy collects various commentary from numerous activists and politicians.
RUPA SHENOY: The people who attended the summit were clearly enthusiastic. They paid $75 each to be there or $25 for students. More than 100 people showed up for a session on potential same-sex marriage legislation. Organizer Michelle Dibblee explained how a grassroots campaign to pass such legislation would work.
MICHELLE DIBBLEE: But we're not close enough to win unless we move some legislators to make what, for them, might be a challenging decision. To do that, they need to hear from constituents. And for those legislators to hear from constituents, we need to continue to organize. What we'll be doing over the course of the next six months is helping you all to connect more deeply in your communities, particularly in those places where we think there are legislators who need constituent pressure to be moved.
RUPA SHENOY: Dibblee had people break into small groups and practice making personal arguments about why Minnesota should legalize same-sex marriage now. [? Gail ?] [? Julius ?] was part of a five-woman group from the Rochester area.
SPEAKER 1: We won this thing, and we won this with straight people saying, I wouldn't dream of telling somebody that they couldn't have this special relationship that I have. I wouldn't-- and straight people in numbers stood up and said that. And so why now? Because they did.
Why now? Because we want to continue that momentum. Don't let go of the plow.
SPEAKER 2: Don't Let go of the plow. [INAUDIBLE]
SPEAKER 1: Don't let go of the plow until we get to the end of that road.
RUPA SHENOY: Across the table, Ruth [? Larsson ?] said it makes political sense to act now.
SPEAKER 3: We have a Democratic house, senate, and governor. OK, strike while the iron's hot.
RUPA SHENOY: That fervor for action was expressed more conservatively by executive Director Monica Meyer of Outfront Minnesota, the group that organized the summit.
MONICA MEYER: We haven't really talked about timing. I mean, the only thing that we really have talked about is how do we build enough support across the state to really make marriage equality a reality and to make it inevitable.
RUPA SHENOY: Meyer says they'll push for that to happen regardless of the DFL's stance on same-sex marriage legislation.
MONICA MEYER: The people in this room aren't waiting for permission to really move forward.
RUPA SHENOY: But they do have permission from some DFLers. State representative Alice Hausman, a DFLer from Saint Paul, says lawmakers can't start real work on the budget until the state management and budget office issues its February revenue forecast. So they might as well take up same-sex marriage legislation in January.
ALICE HAUSMAN: Some people say, well, that means we get off track with the budget, and we shouldn't have other issues dominate. But if we don't deal with this immediately, I would argue it's going to dominate anyway because it hangs out there.
RUPA SHENOY: Not all DFLers agree. A recent MPR News analysis shows 17 DFL house members and 10 DFL senators are in districts where 50% or more of voters supported the same-sex marriage ban. Incoming House Majority Leader Erin Murphy wouldn't say when or if the legislature will take up same-sex marriage legislation.
ERIN MURPHY: I don't think we should get ahead of Minnesotans. They didn't really ask for this discussion to be raised two years ago when it was put on the ballot. But here we are.
RUPA SHENOY: Meanwhile, the many people who organized intensely for a year to pass a same-sex marriage ban in the constitution are waiting for the DFL to make a decision.
ANDY PARRIH: I mean, all we can do is sit and wait. I mean, you've got control. Now do it. Show your backbone, if you have one.
RUPA SHENOY: Andy Parrish was political director of Minnesota for Marriage, the group that led the campaign to ban same-sex marriage. He wants DFLers to act so Republicans can respond.
ANDY PARRIH: They vote no, they defend God's definition of marriage while the Democrats rewrite it. And you fight until the whistle blows.
RUPA SHENOY: Parish says, if the DFL doesn't choose to have that fight, Democrats will disappoint many of their supporters. Rupa Shenoy. Minnesota Public Radio News.
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