Gay marriage bills debated in House committee
by Paul Demko
Published: February 22,2010
Time posted: 7:26 pm
Tags: gay marriage, Joe Mullery, Phyllis Kahn, Ryan Winkler
Rep. Phyllis Kahn
The debate over gay marriage was back at the Capitol on Monday afternoon. A trio of bills relating to same-sex unions were heard before the House’s Civil Justice committee.
A proposal introduced by Rep. Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, would allow two consenting adults to enter into “civil union contracts,” regardless of their gender. Another bill, put forth by Rep. Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, would recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states as legally valid in Minnesota.
But the most far-reaching legislation would legalize gay marriage by removing gender-based terminology in existing state statute. The measure was introduced by Rep. Phyllis Kahn, DFL-Minneapolis, more than a year ago and has 22 other Democratic co-sponsors. Kahn noted in advocating for the bill that she’s probably been married longer than any other current legislator at the Capitol.
“I just want to personally state that I think allowing other people to get married poses absolutely no threat to my marriage,”Kahn told the committee. “The legislative session is probably a little more damaging.”
Chris and Ryan Dolan were the first witnesses to testify in support of gay marriage. The couple, who got married in Toronto, brought along their adopted infant daughter, Olivia, to the hearing. Chris Dolan pointed out that the couple is penalized financially because gay marriage is outlawed in Minnesota, including by having to pay higher costs for health and life insurance policies.
“I can’t state this any clearer: the failure of this state to recognize our marriage is financially hurting our marriage” said Chris, an attorney at Faegre & Benson. “Why is the state of Minnesota making it more difficult for us to provide OIivia with a stable home?”
Dale Carpenter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota, prefaced his testimony by stating that he’s a lifelong conservative Republican. He argued that marriage is a powerful legal institution that encourages healthy, monogamous relationships — whether gay or straight.
“There have been no negative effects on heterosexual families or on children raised in those families,” Carpenter testified of the increasing prevalence of gay marriage. “No slippery slope to polygamy or anything else.”
But opponents of same-sex unions also had their say. Teresa Collett, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, argued that gay marriage would damage society in eight specific ways. Among the harmful effects, according to Collett: retaliation against individuals who oppose homosexual unions and elimination of tax-exempt status for churches that fail to sanction such marriages.
“Make no mistake, marriage as a civil institution, as a legal institution, is grounded not merely in religion, but in the biological reality that sex makes children and children need a mom and a dad,” she said.
Barb Davis White, an African American who is running for Congress in the 5th Congressional District, argued that gay sex is physically dangerous and that children need both a mother and father in their lives.
“Rosa Parks didn’t move to the front of the bus to support sodomy,” she said.
No votes were taken on the bills and no additional hearings are scheduled.
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February 23rd, 2010 at 1:20 am
Gay marriage
My concern is that more and more gay men get STD. It seems that gay men is easier to get an STD.
According to the report from the largest STD dating site == Positivefish.com ==(if I spell the site correctly), the gay subscribers
increased continually. Most of them are ****.
February 23rd, 2010 at 1:51 am
For those of you claiming homosexuality is a “lifestyle”, that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don’t choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men’s Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. “Nurture” may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:23 am
I believe that a solid majority of Minnesotans are opposed to gay marriage and if the politicians feel so pressured by this sort of foolish legislation, they should put it to a popular, rather than a legislative, vote. The Democrats likely don’t need to worry about a big conservative turnout blowing them away as we saw that didn’t materialize in 2008 in California and Florida amendments (Obama won both states in spite of anti-gay marriage ballot measures passing). So let the people have their say. Of course, there are those who would say that we shouldn’t put people’s ‘rights’ up for a vote, but this is not about people’s ‘rights’, it’s about the definition of marriage and this is a DEMOCRACY.
February 23rd, 2010 at 7:51 am
Shadow_man clearly has an opinion based on personal gain. The fact is, one does choose their *behavior*. Skin color is not behavior and cannot be chosen. But your behavior IS chosen and you do choose homosexuality.
There is absolutely NO “scientific evidence” for your position, none. It is not “biological”. It doesn’t fit nature, it doesn’t fit with biological fact. If you are into evolution, it also doesn’t make sense there either since nature chooses ways to propagate the species, not ways to end it.
Lastly, homosexuality is unnatural. You know it, I know it, we all know it. The pieces aren’t meant for each other. They were designed to accept the actions of homosexuality.
Watch the hate begin but the fact is, I’m not a “homophobe”, I don’t “fear” you. What I am is a realist, an observer, who isn’t blinded by the political correctness and the machine of the homosexual machine that violently attacks anyone who dares to disagree with their line. I don’t “hate” you, I don’t know you. But I’ll bet you’ll see the hate fly in response to my post.
February 23rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
Hey, what happened to that DOMA deal that the DFL said already protected marriage so there was no need to pass a Const. Amendment?
Oh wait, their lips were moving.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:04 am
If civil rights movements had to depend on popular opinion for change, schools in the South would still be segregated.
February 23rd, 2010 at 10:51 am
Dave,
Shadow_man posted six links to support his claim. All your response indicates is that you didn’t bother to read his post. Perhaps if you respond to what others are saying and put a little thought into your arguments, you won’t get “hate” thrown back at you.
I do have one question for you, and others who oppose gay marriage: How then, if the “homosexual lifestyle” is so unnatural, do you explain the existence of gay individuals? Why would a significant minority population collectively “choose” to deprive themselves of basic rights and privileges accorded to every other member of society? You suggest that shadow_man’s position is based solely on personal gain…if that is true, why don’t the gays just shutup and have heterosexual relationships? Wouldn’t that be a way to achieve their “personal gain”?
As an observer and a realist, I’m more than a little confused by the implications of your post…
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:43 am
This soooo not the time for this. Budget deficit and bonding bill are where time should be spent.
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Dave says ” I don’t “hate” you, I don’t know you.”
Well that just about says it all, Dave. Your viewpoint is uneducated and ignorant.
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:11 pm
I am disappointed that a professor from St. Thomas University (a university owned/controlled by the Catholic Archdiocese in Minneapolis) was chosen to present his argument against marriage equality which we can guess is based on Roman Catholic views and is backed by Archbishop John C. Neinstedt. If we are going to have a legitimate legal discussion about civil rights, religious convictions should not be the basis of an argument on either side. This is about legality and civil rights, not what John C. Neinstedt considers morally correct.
Or, if the Roman Catholic Church is represented in the argument, then there should be representatives on both sides because there are plenty of supporters (who just happen not to be as loud-mouthed as their opposition) of marriage equality within the Catholic church. Perhaps, a professor from the nearby universities, The College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University (Benedictine universities not controlled by their diocese located in the St. Cloud area) would have happily and eloquently argued in favor of marriage equality?
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
@Not the time for this:
It is always the time to extend equal protection under the law to all individuals.
February 23rd, 2010 at 9:46 pm
There are no gay two year olds. There are no gay 5 year olds. There is no gay gene. The argument that homosexuality is genetically determined and not a choice is absurd. It is a choice, one that occurs sometime after the onset of puberty in humans. Children need both a mother and a father. Society limits certain behaviors because they are dangerous, and homosexual relations are one of those behaviors that rightfully should be limited. Political Correctness has done more damage to our culture than any foreign enemy ever could. Homosexual activists will always label and attack anyone who disagrees with them. Don’t give in. Stand up for common sense and the natural order of life. Marriage is between a man and a woman.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:24 am
I don’t think Minnesota’s Bigot and Homophobe minority has anything to worry about as long as Pawlenty is looking towards the White House. Minnesota polite will be replaced by mean, stupid and ugly as long as Pawlenty is trying to prove himself to the Republican Base. Watch for tons of I don’t hate the sinner, just the sin as those who used to be good neighbor-loving christians try to find ways to justify their personal animosity.to their political reality.
February 24th, 2010 at 9:14 am
I have 7 sons and a 18 mo girl (who clearly is sexually different from the boys) and none of them were born “gay”. If it were true that it is genetic, then statistically speaking I should have at least one. The one thing I do know without a doubt is that they all were born with disordered inclinations. We all have been born with disordered inclinations. Inclinations toward such things as alcoholism. masturbation, fornication, adultery, pedophilia and yes same sex attraction. To ACT out on these inclinations are damaging to the human soul and society. Nature shows us that we suffer destructive consequences when we ACT out on these disordered inclinations. Addiction and the STD rate including HIV should be the first obvious clue. Nature only approves of one chaste man and one chaste woman together for life. No risk of sexual disease involved with this arrangement. I don’t want the state normalizing a very unhealthy and disordered behavior called sodomy. Since when could we ever call such an act beautiful and “natural”? I don’t want LGBT people to hurt themselves through their statistically proven unhealthy and unfaithful sexual lifestyles. And I don’t want the state to protect their unhealthy lifestyles. Isn’t it the States duty to protect people from harm? In case we have all forgotten, the truth about the facts of life are revealed in our bodies. A man is always fertile. A woman is fertile once a month for about 40 years of her life. Nature couldn’t speak louder about her opinion on what she thinks sex is all about. She makes us fertile women bleed every month in case we forget. Too bad men don’t bleed as well.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
Laura, with an attitude like that there is no chance whatsoever that a relative of yours would come out to you.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:32 pm
laura: Nice try in bringing in irrelevant variables to condone your bigotry. All those other things you mentioned are harmful and can be proven wrong. There is nothing wrong with homosexuality or gay marriage.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
For those of you claiming homosexuality is a “lifestyle”, that is a false and ignorant statement. Homosexuality is not a choice. Just like you don’t choose the color of your skin, you cannot choose whom you are sexually attracted to. If you can, sorry, but you are not heterosexual, you are bi-sexual. Virtually all major psychological and medical experts agree that sexual orientation is NOT a choice. Most gay people will tell you its not a choice. Common sense will tell you its not a choice. While science is relatively new to studying homosexuality, studies tend to indicate that its biological.
http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/03/differential-brain-activation.pdf
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/sex/dn14146-gay-brains-structured-like-those-of-the-opposite-sex.html
Gay, Straight Men’s Brain Responses Differ
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155990,00.html
http://www.livescience.com/health/060224_gay_genes.html
http://www.springerlink.com/content/w27453600k586276/
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2008/06/16/172/
There is overwhelming scientific evidence that homosexuality is not a choice. Sexual orientation is generally a biological trait that is determined pre-natally, although there is no one certain thing that explains all of the cases. “Nurture” may have some effect, but for the most part it is biological.
And it should also be noted that:
“It is worth noting that many medical and scientific organizations do believe it is impossible to change a person’s sexual orientation and this is displayed in a statement by American Academy of Pediatrics, American Counseling Association, American Association of School Administrators, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, American School Health Association, Interfaith Alliance Foundation, National Association of School Psychologists, National Association of Social Workers, and National Education Association.”
February 24th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
The National Library of Medicine pubs confirm that sexual orientation is natural, biologically induced in the first trimester of pregnancy, morally neutral, immutable, neither contagious nor learned, bearing no relation to an individuals ability to form deep and lasting relationships, to parent children, to work or to contribute to society.
From the American Psychological Association: homosexuality is normal; homosexual relationships are normal.
The American Academy of Pediatrics, American Psychological Asociation and American Psychiatric Asociation have endorsed civil marriage for same-sex couples because marriage strengthens mental and physical health and longevity of couples, and provides greater legal and financial security for children, parents and seniors.
America’s premier child/mental health associations endorse marriage equality.
February 24th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
This was taken from another poster that shows why we need to legalize gay marriage. If you don’t feel for this person after reading it, you simply aren’t human.
“I am not sure what our President thinks of this dicission but coming from a poor family and knowing what discrimination is all about I would assume he would not care if “Gays” have equal rights. The whole reason why they are asking for rights to be considered married is from the same reason why I would be for it. My own life partner commited suicide in our home with a gun to his heart. After a 28 year union I was deprived to even go his funeral. We had two plots next to each other. But because we did not have a marriage cirtificate “(Legal Document)” of our union his mother had him cremated and his ashes taken back to Missouri where we came from. That is only one example how painful it is. His suicide tramatized me so much and her disregard for my feelings only added to my heartach. That happened on March 21 of 2007 and I still cannot type this without crying for the trauma I have to endure each day. Oh did I mention I am in an electric wheelchair for life? Yes I am and it is very diffacult to find another mate when you are 58 and in a wheelchair. “
February 24th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Barb White is African American and in her 50s, so I assumed she had a long history in the Civil Rights movement, and for some reason I just could not recall her name. But it seems that she was a mortician and then a minister, yet I can’t find any mention of her work for Civil Rights. So I am confused how she knows what Rosa Parks was thinking, since Ms. Parks never spoke publicly on the matter. Coretta Scott King, however, did. And she probably earned more of a right to offer an opinion on the legacy of what her husband and Ms. Parks accomplished than this former-mortician who makes up diseases that do not exist (which she also did on Monday). Mrs. King supported marriage equality, publicly. Her son, MLK III, continues to support gay rights. Folks are entitled to their opinions, but I hate it when politicians put words in the mouths of dead people who actually made real sacrifices for real causes.
February 24th, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Dave,
“It is not biological. It doesn’t fit nature, it doesn’t fit with biological fact.”
Tell that to the gay penguins and the gay ducks and the gay monkeys.
“If you are into evolution, it also doesn’t make sense there either since nature chooses ways to propagate the species, not ways to end it.”
When nature gets overcrowded (which only happens through heterosexual acts) nature finds many ways to slow procreation. Is it so hard to believe that homosexuality is a brilliant plan for nature to not only stop the current gross overcrowding of the planet, but also to provide homes for all the children heterosexuals have created and then abandoned?
“Lastly, homosexuality is unnatural. You know it, I know it, we all know it. The pieces aren’t meant for each other. They were designed to accept the actions of homosexuality.”
You are obviously a man. As a woman, I can tell you your favorite piece does not actually fit what 92% of women consider their favorite piece. Not unless you have an L-shaped *****. The vast majority of women ****** from clitoral stimulation and you truly do not need a ***** for that.
I don’t hate you, either, Dave. I think you are rather boring (I bet your wife thinks so, too, given your obvious lack of understanding of the female body). And I think you should pay a little more attention to your own sex life than that of homosexuals. And I REALLY wish you and your kind would pay more attention to things like starving children and poverty and poor education and a cure for cancer and all the many, many problems of the world rather than wasting your time trying to deny other Americans the same rights you enjoy. As smart as y’all all claim to be… y’all do seem to think you know it ALL… I bet ya’ll could fix all the other problems in a few months if this gay marriage thing was not taking up all your time and intellectual abilities. Go feed a hungry kid today, Dave. Or volunteer at children’s hospital and make life a little easy for a 6 year old dying of cancer. Do something that matters.
February 24th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
To Barb Davis White and her fans, I offer this from Coretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr:
“I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of ******* and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice… But I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King, Jr., said, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’ … I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream to make room at the table of brotherhood and sisterhood for ******* and gay people.”
- Coretta Scott King, 25th anniversary luncheon for Lambda Defense and Education Fund, March 31, 1998
And civil rights leader & Selma marcher who suffered outrageous beatings, Congressman John Lewis:
“It is time to say forthrightly that the government’s exclusion of our gay and ******* brothers and sisters from civil marriage officially degrades them and their families. It denies them the basic human right to marry the person they love. It denies them numerous legal protections for their families.
This discrimination is wrong. We cannot keep turning our backs on gay and ******* Americans. I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation. I’ve heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry.”
- Boston Globe, October 25, 2003
February 24th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Sorry for the weird ****** thing. Should say *******. No idea what happened.
February 27th, 2010 at 9:25 pm
Please check out the letter to the editor from the Anoka Union paper dated Feb 26, 2010 called Homosexual lifestyles.
Mr Hodel writes ….but they should seek help to be helped. They need counseling and medical attention to help them get to a non-active homosexual level……
He finishes the letter with, In some ways it is similar to being an alcoholic, so why defend it. Rather recognize it and get some help.
Check this guy out, he is unreal.
May 4th, 2010 at 8:47 pm
As a women who doesn’t know or care if it is a lifestyle a biological anomally or a choice. I just want to wake up every morning and be able to say that the love of my life, and the one person that completes my world has the right to call herself my wife. All I want is to have the same rights as all the people who get married for finacial gain, on a whim, to become legal citizens or for what every reason they feel other than love.