Dibble, Activists Kick Off Anti-Amendment Campaign

Opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage kicked off their campaign on Monday night, headlined by Southwest Minneapolis' State Senator Scott Dibble.

In between musical numbers by some of the Twin Cities' better-known LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) singers and dancers, Dibble and other prominent politicians opposed to the amendment set a triumphant tone, and appealed for money and volunteer help from supporters for the campaign, which is called Minnesotans United For All Families. Voters will decide on the ballot measure in 2012.

"Just think, on election day, today's 16 year-olds will be 18 then, and we know from the polls that the kids are with us," Dibble said. "They're going to hassle their parents and then their parents and grandparents are going to come with us."

Dibble said this campaign approach rested on polling data that he said showed increase in support for LGBT rights issues once undecided and opposed voters personally knew an LGBT person, and sympathized with their cause.

"Our job is simple: Minnesotans are good and decent people," said St. Louis Park DFL Rep. Steve Simon. "All we have to do is hold up a miror to Minnesota and show Minnesotans themselves [in the LGBT community's struggles]."

A major worry for opponents of the marriage ban is fighting off the traditional charges from opponents that same-sex marriage would have broader implications for straight people. Gay marriage opponents have alleged that failure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, despite the fact that it's already against the law, would lead to legalization. They've argued wrongly that allowing gay people marriage rights would force churches to marry same-sex couples against their beliefs, and that schools would teach students about same-sex marriage. Dibble said he and other MN United leaders had learned lessons from these claims, which have been blamed for same-sex marriage's recent ballot-box defeats.

"Good people got nervous," Dibble said. "We need to get out in front of it. The anti-gay industry has been using the same rhetoric for years."

Much of the money Minnesotans United plans to raise — now estimated at $5 to $10 million — would go to pay for ads combatting these messages, Dibble said.

"This is a chance to educate people in every town in this state to let them understand something they haven't understood," said Roseville Sen. John Marty. "Let them know the hateful politicians aren't what they want. Minnesota's better than that."