Minnesota Family Council calls Republicans against marriage-equality ban ‘social liberals’
The Minnesota Family Council, the main voice behind a ballot initiative that if approved by the voters in 2012 would add a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, said Friday that Republicans who oppose the amendment are liberals. On Thursday, a slate of Republican lawmakers and activists came out against the amendment at a press conference. Reps. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) and Rep.
Jul 31, 202048.4K Shares1.2M Views
The Minnesota Family Council, the main voice behind a ballot initiative that if approved by the voters in 2012 would add a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution, said Friday that Republicans who oppose the amendment are liberals.
On Thursday, a slate of Republican lawmakers and activists came out against the amendment at a press conference. Reps. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) and Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), former gubernatorial candidate Wheelock Whitney, members of Log Cabin Republicans and former deputy mayor under Norm Coleman, Susan Kimberly, took a stance against the amendment.
“The press conference by some socially liberal Republicans who came out against the marriage amendment is really no news. Representatives’ Kriesel and Kelly have made known their opposition this past session. And Wheelock Whitney is know for his pro-gay positions. And Susan Kimberly had a sex change so Susan’s opposition comes as no surprise as well,” wrote Tom Prichard, president of the Family Council.
Prichard took issue with a quote in the Star Tribunefrom Kelly, who called opposition to the amendment a conservative value.
“From my standpoint, as Republicans we espouse a lot of less government, less government, less government,” said Kelly.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” wrote Prichard. “Redefining marriage will only usher in a greater expansion of government to address the needs of greater family and marriage dissolution resulting from the devaluing and watering down of marriage. And government will grow as it seeks to impose upon society, an unnatural understanding of marriage on the rest of an unwilling society. This isn’t about allowing a miniscule number of gay couples to get married but the rather redefinition of marriage for all society.”
Prichard added, “Representative Kelly is certainly free to hold whatever position he wants on the marriage protection amendment. But he needs to know that redefining marriage is anything but conservative.”
Same-sex marriage is currently illegal under Minnesota’s Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). If the amendment fails, same-sex marriage would still remain illegal unless legislators move to repeal DOMA and pass a bill legalizing marriage rights for same-sex couples as has been done in four states and the District of Columbia.
Paula M. Graham
Reviewer
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