state + local

The Marriage Equality bill in New York was not on my radar screen until I saw the two gay men down the street with their new baby. I contacted my NY Assemblyman who was a staunch supporter of the bill, as this was an outcome I had not considered. He told me not to be concerned that in reality " you don't really need a mother". Regardless, of what my assemblyman and state governement believe I'm glad I had a mother and would have been all the less a person without her.

It's not a matter of if same-sex marriage will be legal in the United States but rather a matter of when. Those that are opposed to same-sex marriage do not have history, science, and, as currently being seen, the law backing their views. Opponents of same-sex marriage are also beginning to lose in the public opinion arena as well and we will see tomorrow if we've reached the tipping point in Minnesota. If not, give it a few years and we will. By then, however, same-sex marriage could be legal throughout our country and the only thing we will remember about this time is how our Republican leadership in this state put forth an amendment that pitted neighbor against neighbor, family member against family member, and religious group against religious group. We deserved better leadership than this.

Actually this amendments bypasses activist judges who legislate from the bench, and elected representatives who may or may not represent our views. Both the marriage amendment and the voter i.d. ammendment take the issues directly to the people for their vote. Seems pretty democratic and fair to me.

paraphrased from one of the late-night talk shows "the catholic church doesn't have any ground to stand on concerning sexual ethics." also, @dennis91, i saw a mother shouting profanities at her 1 year old son at the bus stop. i think this child will grow up to believe that he would have rather had the love of two parents, irrespective of their genders, rather than one abusive one. the marriage amendment will only change future adoption policy, not artificial insemination policies. gay men and women will continue to be able to have children despite this law and your objections.

I can think of several gay friends who will be hurt if this amendment passes but I can't think of a single married straight friend (myself included) who will be hurt if this amendment fails.

I can think of several gay friends who will be hurt if this amendment passes but I can't think of a single married straight friend (myself included) who will be hurt if this amendment fails. ========================= So we should vote no because we know gay people? That's the reason. And hurt how? They can't get married now and that won't change when this passes tomorrow. Hurt? That's misleading. And it may not hurt a specific hetero couple but it hurts society as a whole. That's a lot more important.

dennis91: "The Marriage Equality bill in New York was not on my radar screen until I saw the two gay men down the street with their new baby." Same sex couples could have children regardless of whether or not they could marry. The two are unrelated.

commonsense7: "...and elected representatives who may or may not represent our views." If they don't represent our views, why are they representing us? We're the ones who voted them in.

The concerns of General Mills and other Fortune 500 CEO's are valid. We lost an gay employee at my office because him and his partner moved to New York so they could get married and have equality and civil rights and not be discriminated against. He was by far our best salesperson and we are struggling to recoup the amount of work he brought it. We need to create a work environment that is welcoming to all people so we can hire and retain the best employees from all walks of life, any sexual orientation, any race, gender and etc.

jdcarlin: So that's your tactic? Appealing to majority will, but only when it suits you; switching back and forth between "This is what the people want" and "America is a republic, not a democracy? And what about all the missing Pro-marriage lawn signs? 60,000 were given out, then they disappear shortly after they are put out on our lawns. I find this tactic disgusting.