"Rosa Parks Didn't Move To The Front Of The Bus To Support Sodomy"
Written by Melanie Nathan Wednesday, 24 February 2010 08:03
On Monday, three pro-gay bills introduced last March were discussed in an historic House committee meeting, while Lawmakers in Minnesota’s House are considering several other legislative bills. Three bills have yet to receive a hearing in this session and those are the ones that would limit marriage to a heterosexual union by amending Minnesota’s Constitution.
One measure, sponsored by Representative Joe Mullery, DFL- Minneapolis, would recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil union. And Golden Valley Representative Ryan Winkler’s bill seeks to recognize legal marriages performed outside the state.
One of the Bills proposes legalizing gay marriage.
“Representative Phyllis Kahn, a Minneapolis Democrat and sponsor of the measure, testified on “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. Today’s informational hearing is a significant step towards ending this form of discrimination. A majority of Minnesotans (61%) support giving gay couples “the same legal and economic rights and responsibilities as married couples,” according to a 2009 state fair opinion poll.” (reference: “OnTop Magazine, 2-23-10
)
Gay marriage opponents argued that recognizing the unions of gay couples hurts children. ( – what about not having gay marriage hurting my children?)
“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,” Teresa Collett, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas, testified.
Barb Davis, who is running for the Republican nomination in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, anti gay marriage proponent, agreed with the opposition – saying that gay sex is physically dangerous and that children have a right to a mother and a father. (Okay now that’s one I have not heard before.) “Rosa Parks didn’t move to the front of the bus to support sodomy,” she said.
The committee took no action on any of the bills and has not scheduled any additional hearings. The value of the hearings lies in keeping the issue alive and well – while more ground support swells in the wake of ridiculous comments such as that by Ms. Davis.
See earlier Post and Lesbian of the Month , Amy Johnson, for more on the Minnesota struggle.
Melanie Nathan
By Melanie Nathan, nathan@privatecourts.com
www.oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com
Twitter me at: @oblogdeeoblogda
Civil Rights and Human Rights Activist;
Owner Private Courts Inc.
Conflict Resolution & Personal Advocacy firm at
www.privatecourts.com
Read the original article in Lez Get Real
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