Today, the Minnesota legislature is supposed to vote on gay marriage. I know because the pressure has been at fever pitch — I got three phone calls yesterday from advocacy organizations calling to get me to call my representative. I’ve told NOM to take a flying leap, but Minnesotans United, despite the annoying dunning, have my favor.
Apparently, my representative, Jay McNamar, is one of those dumbass undecideds. He’s been waffling over the issue, an uncertainty which doesn’t just leave me cold, it makes me actively dislike him. I’ve called him several times to tell him that this is the civil rights issue of our era, and if he can’t make up his goddamn mind about something as basic as human decency, he’s not on my side. If he votes against it, he’ll never have my vote ever again; if he can muster a little integrity and principle, maybe I’ll reluctantly put a mark next to his name on a ballot next time around.
But the word is that we’ll know today. Don’t disappoint me, Minnesota!
What’s McNamar’s “rationale,” if that’s the correct word, for being undecided, I wonder?
“Hmm, are homosexuals objectively disordered sinners against God’s law whose deviance cannot be condoned lest we go the way of Sodom, or is it just the way some people happen to be and everyone deserves equal rights to happiness and social acceptance?
I just can’t decide . . .”
Best wishes, Minnesota. Hope it comes out right.
Sadly, Chris Kluwe was released by the Vikings. His on field performance has been excellent, so despite the official denials it appears that Kluwe’s advocacy for marriage equality and gay rights has cost him his job.
Reginald Selkirk – according to my mother (who is passionately in favor of marriage equality, and loved Kluwe’s writing on the subject), Kluwe’s performance on the field this year was “similar to that of Charlie Brown”, which is to say, not excellent.
Yeah sorry, Kluwe’s release is legit. Don’t go looking for evil that doesn’t exist — there’s plenty of the real thing.
In contrast to PZ’s legislator, here’s a story about a Minnesota legislator who is voting against the will of his constituents (as expressed on the 2012 ballot question) because he is voting his conscience despite the fact that it will probably lose him re-election.
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/05/09/politics/radinovich-same-sex-marriage
My legislator is one of the co-sponsors of the bill. I’m so proud.
It bugs me that we have to vote on peoples rights, I’m glad things seem to finally be going the right way, but it just seems wrong to be voting on who gets what rights and who doesn’t.
Democracy is a work in progress.
[probably a good thing]
I’d cut Rep. McNamar some slack on this issue, given that he beat his Republican opponent by just 1% in 2012 and that a majority of voters in his district voted for the (anti-same sex) marriage amendment. If McNamar is o.k. on other issues but has to duck and cover on this one, as long as a majority in the Minnesota House votes to make same-sex civil marriage legal, I’d certainly vote for him to help keep the Democrats in control of the Minnesota House.
This Massachusetts resident would love to welcome Minnesota into the 21st century!
What’s McNamar’s “rationale,” if that’s the correct word, for being undecided, I wonder?
I assume that he has an opinion, but he worries that voicing it will cost him his seat.
Well Becca, that’s undoubtedly true, but it’s not very compelling. He does need to explain himself publicly somehow, and that doesn’t seem like it would go over very well.
@cervantes #1
I imagine it’s more along the lines of “Hmm… *holds up finger* Which way’s the wind blowing? I just can’t tell…”.
Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops are still fighting on the losing side:
http://www.salon.com/2013/05/09/is_the_catholic_church_even_trying_to_make_sense_on_marriage_equality/
Yes, Lynna, I took my elderly mother to church on Sunday (I don’t stay as I no longer believe.) and the priest was reading an announcement from the Bishop asking good Catholics to call their senators and representatives to not let marriage be redefined.
I so wanted to scream out a few four-letter Anglo-Saxon words, but I decided not to embarrass my mother.
I emailed Roger Erickson and he’s a yes so I don’t even get to complain. Go Minnesota!
Fortunately my state rep (DFL) and senator (R!!) are both on record as supporting the bills. I did drop them a note thanking them for their support.
Bill passes: 75-59.
FYI, McNamar voted Yes in favor of passage.
@19 Dave wilford I was just coming to post that. I’m proud to be a Minnesotan!
Bill passes: 75-59.
*yaaaaaayy*