As conservatives in Minnesota plot and plan to get a marriage equality ban on the 2012 ballot, the state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party insists it will do everything in its power to stop them.
"With the Republican majorities in the legislature, it's very likely that the GOP will drive their partisan agenda next year by putting constitutional amendments on the ballot," said DFL Chair Ken Martin in a missive to party members after the site Change.org issued a petition calling for a stronger stance on the matter.
"While Governor Dayton can stop any extreme bills that come to his desk, the right-wing majority can use constitutional amendments on the ballot to circumvent his veto pen," wrote Martin. "That means there's a real looming danger for many Minnesotans – especially those in the LGBT community."
The party leader continued, "Let me be clear: the DFL Party has and always will be the Party that stands for equal rights. And we will work hard to ensure that the GOP is not successful in their quest to write discrimination into our state constitution."
Read the relevant parts of Martin's letter, AFTER THE JUMP…
From Martin's letter in the DFL Dispatch:
…We also have a lot of tough battles coming up—and not just to get our candidates elected. With the Republican majorities in the legislature, it's very likely that the GOP will drive their partisan agenda next year by putting constitutional amendments on the ballot. And while Governor Dayton can stop any extreme bills that come to his desk, the right-wing majority can use constitutional amendments on the ballot to circumvent his veto pen. That means there's a real looming danger for many Minnesotans – especially those in the LGBT community.
Let me be clear: the DFL Party has and always will be the Party that stands for equal rights. And we will work hard to ensure that the GOP is not successful in their quest to write discrimination into our state constitution.
We are the party that supports equality and fairness. We believe that every person in Minnesota should have the ability to marry the person they love. We believe every student should be safe at school, and have a healthy, respectful learning environment free of harassment and violence. We believe in ending discrimination based on sexual orientation (and also based on gender, race, religion, disability and any other perceived or actual characteristic). And we will fight to make sure that any GOP efforts to outlaw gay marriage through a constitutional amendment will be voted down in 2012.
Note: As a matter of full disclosure, I have written for Change.org, the site that spurred Martin to take a stronger stand.
