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May. 25th, 2011 09:23 amNow this is the kind of Minnesota I am proud to be......
MN Pro Gay Marriage Republican: War Experience Taught Me the Importance of Love
posted by: Steve Williams
Over the weekend the Minnesota Legislature passed a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in a 2012 ballot, would codify the existing statutory ban on same-sex marriage by placing discrimination in the Minnesota Constitution. Not all Republicans supported this action however, with Rep. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) telling the state House that a near fatal experience during his military service changed his mind on gay marriage.
During his testimony, Kriesel said that being injured "woke" him up and changed him, adding: "Because of that, it's made me think about this issue. And say, 'You know what, what would I do without my wife?' She makes me happy. Life is hard. We're in a really tough time in our history. Happiness is so, so hard to find for people. So they find it, they find someone that makes them happy, and we want to take that person away. We want to say, 'Oh no, you can be together, you can love that person, but you can't marry them.' You can't marry them. That's wrong."
He goes on to say how he believes that the marriage amendment does not comport with the American values that he fought to protect. He also talks about a now deceased fellow servicemember who was gay and gave his life during military service.
( Read more... )
MN Pro Gay Marriage Republican: War Experience Taught Me the Importance of Love
posted by: Steve Williams
Over the weekend the Minnesota Legislature passed a constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters in a 2012 ballot, would codify the existing statutory ban on same-sex marriage by placing discrimination in the Minnesota Constitution. Not all Republicans supported this action however, with Rep. John Kriesel (R-Cottage Grove) telling the state House that a near fatal experience during his military service changed his mind on gay marriage.
During his testimony, Kriesel said that being injured "woke" him up and changed him, adding: "Because of that, it's made me think about this issue. And say, 'You know what, what would I do without my wife?' She makes me happy. Life is hard. We're in a really tough time in our history. Happiness is so, so hard to find for people. So they find it, they find someone that makes them happy, and we want to take that person away. We want to say, 'Oh no, you can be together, you can love that person, but you can't marry them.' You can't marry them. That's wrong."
He goes on to say how he believes that the marriage amendment does not comport with the American values that he fought to protect. He also talks about a now deceased fellow servicemember who was gay and gave his life during military service.
( Read more... )
