"Vote No," Local Rabbi Urges in TV Ad

A priest, a minister, and a rabbi walk into a bar.

It's not a joke, the minister tells the bartender.

"No, we're serious," says the minister. "Seriously against limiting Minnesotans' freedom to marry."

The three religious leaders— Rabbi Michael Latz and the heads of two St Paul churches—are part of a new TV commercial put together by Minnesotans United for All Families, the main group organizing against the marriage amendment. The amendment, on the ballot this November, would write a ban on same-sex marriages into the state constitution. The state already has such a law on the books but proponents say an amendment is needed to prevent potential future repeal efforts.

Minnesotans United is seeking to cast the issue as a struggle to protect the freedom of same-sex Minnesotans and churches that want to bless same-sex unions. Previous campaigns against same-sex marriage bans like California's Proposition 8, failed after appealing to values of equality.

Shir Tikvah is one of many houses of worship new marriage licenses until same-sex couples can legally wed, and has been very active in local struggles for LGBT rights.

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