disneydream06

This is the Letter to the Editor that I submitted to the local paper.
Wonder if they will print it and if they do, how much they will edit it. :o

Minnesota has just joined the correct side of history by legalizing marriage for everyone, unlike so many other states that have legalized bigotry instead.

This momentous feat sadly did not happen with the help of my two state reps, Rep. Mike Benson and Sen. Carla Nelson. Sadly, they let their personal feelings stand in the way of human rights for their constituents. They both voted to make the LGBT community second class citizens in the state of Minnesota. Shame on both of them.

Mike Benson claims he voted against legalizing marriage equality because...

"I voted for the majority of my constituents who want to maintain the current law of recognizing that marriage is between one man and one woman.54 percent of the people in our district voted for the marriage amendment last November, and in my legislative correspondence people are opposed to legalizing gay marriage by a three to one ratio."

Mr. Benson, first of all, it was 54% of the voting public - not of your district, and 54% sounds like a far cry from 3 to 1.

In his news letter, Mr. Benson continues by spouting the Tea Party/Republican line that Heterosexual marriage is the only "traditional" marriage and it's the only way to raise children. With that arguement Mr. Benson, single people and widowed people should also not be allowed to raise children.

Also, if I remember correctly, Slavery was a tradition our country also held for many many years. Which traditions are the ones that are worth holding on to?????

Mr. Benson, in his newsletter, also goes on to criticize the Democratic Party for wasting time on social issues when nothing has been done on the budget. I believe that is like the Pot calling the Kettle black, to coin an old phrase. The Tea Party/Republican Party has been enacting Social Issue laws all across this country for the past several years. After the midterm elections of President Obama's first term, the Tea Party/Republicans first bill pushed through the House of Representatives was an abortion bill. Not exactly the issue that supposedly they got elected to take care, aka, It's the economy stupid.

As for Sen. Carla Nelson, she says she voted against legalizing marriage equality because...

"This means that Catholic Charities and other similar organizations will no longer receive public dollars to provide adoptions, foster care or social services if they do not embrace same sex marriage.
This bill denies the right of a different opinion. While advancing the rights of some, this bill denies the rights of others in the process. We can and should be more thoughtful than that."

In my humble opinion that sounds like Sen. Nelson voted against marriage equality because it prevents legal religious bigotry. Am I wrong?

As for denying differences of opinion, how many laws don't do that? Should we get rid of the American's With Disabilities Act because it "forces" people to treat the disabled equaly? Should we get rid of the Patriot Act because it denies me the opinion that my shampoo is perfectly safe to carry on an airplane? Well, yes, we should get rid of that one.

It is safe to say that there will be very few, if any, issues that I will agree with by either of my state reps. After all I am a self described Bleeding Heart Liberal, and proud of it. Many issues can come and go with simple disagreement between us, but I will not stand by quietly when my reps vote to keep anyone in a second class citizenship.