Minnesotans United, DFL allies to push for marriage freedom for plaid flannel wearing dudes

Conservative bloggers have been putting out troll bait about the legalization of same-sex marriage since the election. It's been an entertaining show, but two developments should force their hand, and they may just have to go back to teh shrill about cute boys marrying.

Minnesotans United for All Families made history defeating the amendment to restrict the freedom to marry. It didn't hide behind the fact that defeating the amendment wouldn't make same-sex marriage legal. Instead, the very smart people running the group understood that a respectful conversation about the very personal subjects of love, marriage and family would win the day.

Now the conversation will move from the phones, doors, dining room tables, cafes and wherever two or more are gathered to the state capitol. In MN United for All Families to lobby to legalize same-sex marriage, Minnesota Public Radio's Tom Scheck reports:

The group, Minnesotans United for All Families, is shifting roles from a group that worked to defeat a constitutional amendment to a group that will lobby for the legalization of same-sex marriage. The organization, which successfully defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have defined marriage as a man and a woman in Minnesota, will now form to lobby on behalf of legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota. The group's spokesman, Jake Loesch, says they will be sending an e-mail to supporters today announcing the change.

"All of this is initial planning and we're just starting to communicate and put all of our plans together." Loesch said. "But the goal of the organization will be to make 2013 the year that we secure the freedom to marry for all couples in Minnesota."

Read the rest--including the position of M4M--in Scheck's report. Elsewhere, ECM Publishers' T.W. Budig reports in Same-sex marriage supporters want to move quickly on a bill:

“This kind of closes the loop of the election,” said Rep. Alice Hausman, DFL-St. Paul, who looks to carry same-sex marriage legislation in the House.

Hausman, like Sen. John Marty, DFL-Roseville, who plans to carry a same-sex marriage bill in the Senate, points to the failure of the Republican-sponsored marriage amendment last election as evidence of the state reaching a consensus on same-sex marriage.

. . .Marty speaks of a two-hour debate in the Senate Judiciary Committee and an up or down vote.

Hausman is a bit more cautious, saying the number of committees a same-sex marriage bill might need to clear in the House depends on its legal implications and the desire of House leadership. . . .

While Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk and Speaker Paul Thissen have stressed that they're going to focus on the budget, school funding reform and job, and the Governor wants tax reform, it will be up to the MUAF lobbyists and grassroots members to remind legislators of both parties that a vote to end restrictions on the freedom to marry will be to live up to the discussion that defeated the amendment.

Budig reports that Republican leaders are not going to depart from their opposition to the freedom to marry. Instead, he indulges in some quality concern trolling of his own for DFL messaging on the issue his side brought to the party on November 6.

Yes, Daudt has decided to be that guy:

House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, said his caucus hadn’t yet discussed anticipated same-sex marriage bills.

By bringing the issue up, Democrats are contradicting themselves, Daudt argued.

“What the DFL’s message (in the election) was, is that we shouldn’t be focused on divisive social issues,” he said.

Rather, lawmakers should focus on budgetary matters.

“It’s interesting how roles have switched,” Daudt said.

House Republicans thought long and hard about proposing the marriage amendment, Daudt explained.

And they will debate the issue seriously again, he said.

“These are complex issues that affect people’s lives,” Daudt said.

“I don’t think anybody takes them lightly on either side of the aisle,” he said.

It's a good thing Daudt thinks so--and when members of his caucus break with the party line, Bluestem hopes that whatever his own views on marraige may be, he supports his members against threats of primary challenges from those who think this complex issue can be reduced to a simple litmus test for admission to Republican ranks at the state capitol.

Photo: Larry Duncan and Randy Shepherd get a marriage license in Washington state. Photo by Meryl Schenker.

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