Battling for the High Ground Over Marriage Rights

As national groups plan their battles over the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, each side is competing to be seen as most reasonable. At the same time, both risk alienating the public if the campaigns descend into inflammatory rhetoric.

"I'm not looking forward to a year of discord and ugliness," said Southwest resident Eric Jensen, echoing many people's concerns that the debate will divide the state.

A History of Extreme Rhetoric
The Minnesota Family Council didn't respond to repeated requests for comment, but statements by the organization's President Tom Prichard reflect a desire for a rational discussion on the issue. Following Saturday's vote to put the amendment on the 2012 ballot, he told the Star Tribune that "our goal is to not make it personal. I think we can have a respectful discussion and conversation on the importance of marriage in our state."

However, the council's "Legislative Handbook," posted on its website, offers a rather different picture. The compilation of free soundbites for legislators and community leaders contains several claims that stray far from Prichard's stated desire for "respectful discussion and conversation."

On Tuesday, the council removed the Handbook sections regarding homosexuality from its website, but Patch downloaded copies (click on PDF on the right). The document's chapter on "Domestic Partnership" reads: "Domestic partner benefits will serve as a 'homosexual recruitment program' since no other individuals will benefit from this proposal." 

The organization's manual also compares gay people to pedophiles. "The homosexual population includes a disproportionate number of pedophiles," the council's handbook continues. "Many prominent homosexuals and organizations have the stated objective to remove age-of-consent laws from state statutes."

According to the Hennepin County District Attorney's office, no prosecutor in Minnesota collects statistics on the sexual orientation of pedophiles. In many cases, said the office's spokesman, Chuck Laszewski, perpetrators prey on both boys and girls. "You have to wonder where they got that number," he said of the Minnesota Family Council.

The council is working in conjunction with the National Organization for Marriage, which also didn't return requests for comment. The organization has helmed or helped many of the past 29 ballot initiative campaigns to ban or overturn same-sex marriage in other states. The two groups have drawn criticism for possibly violating campaign disclosure laws in Minnesota in the past.

Opponents Say They're Trying to Keep Debate Out of the Mud
Gov. Mark Dayton told reporters Wednesday he believes the amendment will fail. "If the other side on this matter wants to engage in a cultural war, if that’s their intent, it’s going to be very, very difficult," Dayton said.

Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) said he and his allies want to avoid similarly toxic rhetoric as they campaign against the proposed constitutional ban. 

"There are a lot of folks who’ve got a question mark in their mind about [same-sex marriage]. It seems new to them," Dibble said. "They're not necessarily bigots, and they're not necessarily prejudiced." Painting all amendment supporters with such a broad brush, Dibble said, wouldn't be "valid" or "fair."

Instead, Dibble said much of the campaign leading up to November 2012 would be built around asking LGBT community members to share their life stories with friends and neighbors around the state, asking community leaders to announce their opposition to the amendment. Dibble and other opponents said they're spending this week assembling a coalition of small business groups, unions, religious groups, and civic groups like the League of Women Voters to work with LGBT-rights groups to stop the amendment.

"Our strength is really grassroots organizing, mobilizing people and leadership development," said Monica Meyer, OutFront's Executive Director and a Southwest Minneapolis resident.

Heavy hitters in the national LGBT rights movement are showing interest in joining in Minnesota's fight, despite the probability that as many as six states could be fighting similar battles in 2012. The Human Rights Campaign, Freedom to Marry and California's Courage Campaign are all working with OutFront on this issue, Meyer said.

With so many players on the field, Meyer acknowledged that coordinating the campaign—a goal over the next few weeks—would be difficult.

"We want an organized campaign, but we also want a campaign that lets local communities and local groups play a strong role," Meyer said. "They need to be able to decide what works best in their community."