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You obviously are aware that a bi-partisan vote of Minnesota legislature favored the right of the Minnesota people to vote regarding the proposed marriage amendment on the 2012 ballot. Unfortunately, the citizens of Iowa and 10 other states never had the chance to voice their opinion. Activist judges and politicians made the decision for them.

Iowa marriage was redefined through a court order in Varnum v Brien in 2009. Benson v Chapin is now waiting to come before the Hennepin Co District Court in hopes to redefine marriage for Minnesotans. We are fortunate to have a voice. To date there are 32 states that have been given the privilege to vote on the definition of marriage. Each of those 32 states chose to protect the institution of marriage as being between one man and one woman. Interestingly enough according to the 2010 census same-sex households comprise less than 1% of households in Minnesota. Aren't our laws supposed to be enacted and enforced to protect the common good?

Following are some of the cases that have entered the legal system where judges and politicians have enacted laws which have redefined the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples.

Catholic Charities in Boston, which had known for providing excellent adoption services since 1903, was forced to close because placing children in homes of gay or lesbian couples was against their religious beliefs and common sense.

In 2008 Parker v Hurley, David Parker and his wife of Lexington, Massachusetts objected to their kindergartener being taught about transsexuals and same-sex couples in class. The state declared parents do not have a right to remove their children from lessons they find objectionable.

The Boy Scouts of America v City of Philadelphia in 2008 terminated the use of a leased building from the city which had been built by the scouts on government land that served as scout headquarters for 79 years based on Boy Scout policies regarding homosexuals.

Gerald Buell, a Florida high school social studies "Teacher of the Year," was removed from the classroom in Aug 2011 because he opposed same-sex unions on his personal Facebook page. Only after public pressure and threats of legal action was he allowed to return.

In April 2009 Willock v Elane Photography, a family owned business in NM declined to photograph a same sex "commitment ceremony" and was ordered to pay thousands.

In Julia Ward v Wilbanks a student was discharged from her social work program at Eastern Michigan University due to her unwillingness to affirm same-sex relationships when counseling clients. EMU had assigned Ms Ward a client who was seeking counseling regarding involvement in a same sex relationship. Ms Ward asked to have the client reassigned. A short time later the University initiated formal proceedings against Ms Ward. She was dismissed from the program in March 2009. She in turn sued EMU on the basis that the University had violated her First Amendment rights to free speech and free exercise of religion. In July 2010 the federal district court found no violation of Ms Wards' constitutional rights. She then appealed the case and it was reversed but only after it cost her $300,000 and two years before she was finally readmitted into the university to complete her social degree.

In 2008 in California a Christian physician was sued for sexual orientation discrimination because she agreed to treat a lesbian's infertility but declined to artificially inseminate her.

In 2006 New Jersey became the 3rd state to legalize same-sex unions. In 2007 a lesbian couple asked to use the Ocean Grove Christian Camp Ground, owned by the Methodist Church since 1870, for their civil union ceremony. The church refused based on their religious beliefs. Judge Metzger ruled "that in 2007 the church found itself on the wrong side of recent changes in the law." Their tax-free status has been revoked.

In Des Moines IA, the YMCA refused a lesbian couple family membership status and were pressured by the city to reverse their decision or lose $100,000 in government support.

Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn. (C.S. Lewis)

On the back of the November 6th ballot you can choose, "Shall the Minnesota constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?" How are you going to vote when you step behind that curtain?

I will vote Yes on the Minnesota Marriage Amendment.[[In-content Ad]]

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