Editorial: Marriage amendment inspires action

Talk about it

On Sunday afternoon a group of nearly 200 Dakota County residents gathered to kick off a countywide effort to defeat a constitutional amendment that would outlaw same-sex marriage in Minnesota. It is the first such county-level gathering held in conjunction with a group called Minnesotans United for All Families, and it will be used as a template for future campaign launches around the state.

That is a testament to the Dakota County residents who stepped forward to get things organized. There is a core group of active residents, including several from Farmington, who are fighting for a cause in which they believe strongly.

There will almost certainly be more such efforts as we move closer to November, on either side of the issue. This amendment, which if approved would serve to bolster a current law against same-sex marriage, has already inspired strong opinions, and those opinions are only likely to get stronger as election day approaches.

Ultimately, groups like the one that came together Sunday can have a significant impact on this election, pro and con. It is the people who are most passionate about this issue whose stories will carry the most weight.

It’s people like Rosemount High School teacher Veda Kanitz, who got involved early on in large part because of her sister, who lives with her partner in Duluth. Kanitz has been married for 30 years and finds it invaluable to have a partner who is there with her in good times and there for her in bad. She would like her sister to have an opportunity for the same kind of relationship.

Whether you support or oppose this amendment, this is an important time to be active. This is too important an issue for the people who are affected to remain silent.

Tags: opinion, rosemount, editorials