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(Minneapolis) - Following on the heels of the St. Paul City Council,
which on March 24th endorsed a resolution opposing efforts to amend the
Minnesota Constitution to bar legal recognition of same-sex couples, the
Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a resolution to the same
effect on April 2nd.
The resolution, authored by openly-gay Council member Scott Benson and
sponsored by seven other members of the City Council, cited Minneapolis'
progressive commitment to fostering equality for all, including its GLBT
residents. The City is now on record as opposing "any … amendment to the
Minnesota or United States Constitution that restricts or jeopardizes
the equal rights of members of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and
Transgender community or limits the recognition of domestic partnerships
or civil unions." Mayor R. T. Rybak spoke emphatically in favor of the
resolution.
"Minneapolis has a long of both 'talking' and 'walking' when it comes to
its dedication to promoting justice and fairness in the city," said
OutFront Minnesota Executive Director Ann M. DeGroot. "This statement –
this unanimous statement – is a very important message to Minnesotans
and to those involved in the public policy process that same-sex couples
are a valued part of any community, and that their families deserve
protection and respect."
Contact:
Monica Meyer, Public Policy Director
(612) 822-0127, ext. 115
Ann M. DeGroot, Executive Director
(612) 822-0127, ext. 107
Text of the Minneapolis City Council Resolution:
A Resolution Regarding a Constitutional Prohibition Against Gay
Marriage
By Benson, Lilligren, Schiff, Zerby, Niziolek, Ostrow, Colvin Roy,
Zimmermann
WHEREAS, the City of Minneapolis has a rich history in the civil
rights movement and rightfully considers itself a progressive city
regarding its policies ensuring equal rights for all citizens; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the status and rights of all persons
regardless of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin,
sex, including sexual harassment, sexual orientation, disability, age,
or marital status; and
WHEREAS, the City has a long record of protecting the civil liberties
of and advocating for equal rights for members of the Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) community including protecting
Minneapolis GLBT residents from employment discrimination, seeking to
extend equal employment benefits to the City’s GLBT employees and the
employees of the City’s contractors, registering domestic partnerships,
and recognizing the domestic partnerships and civil unions of other
jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the Senate File 2715 and House File 2798 could jeopardize
these efforts by proposing the following constitutional amendment: “Only
the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a
marriage in Minnesota. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as
a marriage or its legal equivalent.”
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS
That the City of Minneapolis opposes Senate File 2715 and House File
2798 and any other amendment to the Minnesota or United States
Constitution that restricts or jeopardizes the equal rights of members
of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community or limits the
recognition of domestic partnerships or civil unions.
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