Election 2012: Minnesotans reject anti-marriage-equality constitutional amendment
Voters in Minnesota have rejected a constitutional amendment that sought to ban the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, a member of Minnesotans United for All Families, contributed significant staff and resources to this victory.
Task Force Executive Director Rea Carey said:
This landmark victory is yet another example of the national momentum toward treating all families fairly. Congratulations to Minnesota for recognizing and affirming our common humanity by rejecting this unnecessary and unfair amendment.
Same-sex couples and our families simply want to be treated fairly, as our friends, neighbors, co-workers and many others already are. We want to be able to provide for and protect our families, just as everyone else does.
Over the past many months, we’ve talked about why fairness matters, and of how discrimination hurts families. All across Minnesota, people have been having these personal and poignant conversations around their kitchen tables, in their living rooms, on their front porches, on Facebook, and plenty of other places. The transformative nature of people talking about our love and our lives is clear, as we see with this victory in Minnesota, and in the fact that the majority of Americans now supports the freedom to marry.
We congratulate Minnesotans United for All Families — especially our good friends at OutFront Minnesota and Project 515 — and all those who worked so hard to bring us to this incredible moment. We are proud to have stood with them, shoulder to shoulder, as a partner in this victory.
We rejoice in this moment and vow to press forward to the day when loving couples and families in Minnesota, and in every state, can share in the celebration and responsibilities of marriage.
More about the Task Force’s work in Minnesota
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund have invested significantly in the work of Minnesotans United for All Families. This includes:
- Task Force staff have been members of the board of Minnesotans United for All Families since its inception.
- Dedicating full-time organizers to work on the campaign, all serving in key positions.
- Organizing “Conversations with People You Know” trainings, in which thousands of people of faith have been trained and had conversations with other people of faith about the need for equality.
- Collaborating with Catholics for Marriage Equality on a pro-equality music video.
- Recruiting participants for the Volunteer Vacation marriage equality program.
- Hosting a One-Day United house party and raised $50,000 for the campaign, including a $10,000 donation from the Task Force.
