Good morning, Shakopee -
Photo courtesy of Amy Zellmer at Custom Creations Photography.
I wanted to let you know about something I’ve been struggling with for the past few months. The amendment to limit the status of marriage to the opposite sex, better known in Minnesota as the marriage amendment.
Personally, I am very much opposed to the amendment. To me, this is a matter of right vs. wrong and I believe it is simply wrong for me to cast a vote for a constitutional amendment that restricts the ability of my friends, family, coworkers to marry whomever they choose. As mayor, however, this is an altogether different matter.
A month ago, I was asked to speak at a rally being held in Shakopee by Minnesota United for All Families. MN United is a non-partisan committee campaigning against the amendment. They are funded by many business leaders, LGBT Advocacy groups and individuals. I spoke with a lot of folks I trust on both side of the aisle about whether it was a good idea to speak up or not. Most said it was an issue where I do not need to be involved. It is a state issue, it doesn’t affect Shakopee, mayors are non-partisan, etc.
In opposition to a majority of the smart advice I received, I decided to follow my conscience. This amendment is simply wrong and, as Mayor of Shakopee, I will do what it takes to defeat it.
Many in Shakopee may not agree with my decision and I respect that. My role is non-partisan and I believe this is absolutely a non-partisan issue. As Mayor of Shakopee, I represent many gay couples and I believe it is right to stand up for them. It is already law in Minnesota that marriage is between a man and a woman. However, if this amendment passes – and I don’t believe it will – it will constitutionally create a 2nd class of Shakopee residents. Those who can and those who cannot get married. This is simply wrong.
The argument against the marriage amendment goes beyond love. It is also an issue of economic development, the cornerstone of my mayoral platform. Business leaders from across the state oppose this amendment. John Taft, the CEO of RBC Wealth believes:
in today’s competitive market, companies need to recruit the best talent; that gays and lesbians are a critical source of quality employees and that Minnesota has long prospered by fostering a welcoming and inclusive culture.
Legendary Medtronic CEO Bill George says:
Defeating this amendment is essential not only to provide civil rights, but also to ensure that Minnesota is open and welcoming to everyone — regardless of religion, gender, race, national origin or sexual orientation.
Many other corporations and leaders are speaking out against the amendment like General Mills, Thompson Reuters and St Judes to protect the economic future of Minnesota as an inclusive community recruiting all talented and creative people to our state.
At the rally last night, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with many gay couples and individuals who live in Shakopee or those who live in Shakopee and have gay children, parents, friends, siblings, co-workers and the list goes on and on. This is an amendment affecting real people in Shakopee. An amendment that does real harm to Shakopee residents. An issue that I believe that with your help, we will defeat.
Please Vote No this November.
Thank you for listening and I would love to hear your thoughts on my stance. Have a great day!
Brad
Props to you for for publicly blogging this, Brad.
I’m trying to encourage Northfield leaders and institutions to do likewise – see the blog post and discussion here http://locallygrownnorthfield.org/post/26500/
Your rationale as mayor, publicly stated, will help.
This is a thoughtful and well reasoned statement. I applaud your commitment to taking your role as a lawmaker making good public policies seriously. We need more electeds who share your commitment to the common good.
Well said Brad,
I’m glad that you are able to draw a distinction between this issue and the politics that surround it.
It’s not a “Gay issue”, it’s a Freedom issue. The question that we will be voting on in November is, “Should the State of Minnesota limit individuals freedom to marry an individual of their choosing?”
Because the answer to that is resoundingly and obviously no, we will be voting No.
Thanks again!
Thank you for publicly supporting freedom for all people.
A thank you and call out to all public figures brave enough to speak out against hate speech and a war against millions of decent human beings guilty of nothing.
There are many people in my life that have been impacted by societal bullying and the denial of rights to the GLBT community.
Too many people still live in fear of being known for their sexual preferences & way too many people still think it socially acceptable to denigrate and punish that 5% of the earth’s citizens.
Let’s work hard to prove to the nation that MN will not be the 31st state to deny the basic civil right to love, honor, and cherish that special person in their life (all other states have caved and failed to this point).
Interesting how your internal debate about the “Most said it was an issue where I do not need to be involved. It is a state issue, it doesn’t affect Shakopee, mayors are non-partisan, etc.” and “My role is non-partisan and I believe this is absolutely a non-partisan issue.”
Many people in Shakopee remember as I do when legislative positions were “non-partisan” – it took a law passed by a “non-partisan” legislature to create the political affiliations recognized on the ballots Minnesota voters use to choose their leaders. The way I thought it was supposed to work for legislators – and I had the honor to serve in the legislature representing Shakopee some years ago – you would be endorsed by a party, as I was, but this only meant that your basic political philosophy was closer to this party than the other party.
When a legislator went to St. Paul, he or she was a Minnesotan looking out for the best for your constituents while always trying to support policies that were the best of all alternatives for the state and all Minnesotans. I am confident that even if Mayors were by law made to be a partisan office you, Mr. Mayor, would still do the best of your ability to make Shakopee a better place for all the people and interests in the city.
Thank you for your leadership.
Brad-
Thank you for taking a stand against this amendment. As a school psychologist who works at both a middle and high school, I often have teens who come to me for help as they struggle with sexual orientation or gender identity and also with those who openly gay and have to deal with bullies, etc. Often their biggest problem is not having people who support them at different levels. As a mayor, I believe you can and are making an amazing difference in the lives of many people. Thank you for all you do
-Matt
I’m very disappointed in your viewpoint, Mr. Mayor. It saddens me to see marriage become something other than between “one woman and one man”. Of course there are gay relationships; there always has been and always will be. I have nothing against gay relationships. How someone lives their life is none of my business, and I am glad to see everyone, yes everyone, get the chance to love whomever they choose. But marriage, oh marriage, is another thing in my book; a sacred and timeless convenant that was designed for a man and a woman since the beginning of time, since it doesn’t create a sterile union like a gay marriage would. I know I’m not being PC by saying that, but it saddens my heart to do away with the specialness of one woman and one man. And frankly, I’m so tired of always trying to be so PC. It feels goods to say what’s in my heart, even if others disagree. So Mr. Mayor, I’m sad that we’ll just have to agree to disagree about what marriage means to us.
Thank you for your comments, Mary! I really appreciate your thoughtful and respectful response. Like you said, we can agree to disagree on this topic. That is okay!
I don’t view this as being a throwaway PC issue but an issue that directly affects peoples’ lives in Shakopee.
To me, marriage is about love between two people and not about love specifically between a man and a woman. I could not care less if it is two men, two women or a man and a woman. I feel allowing any two people that love each other to marry can only elevate and improve the covenant of marriage.
Thank you, again, for your heartfelt response. Please don’t be sad that we have to disagree – I think these discussions and respectful conversations are very healthy and positive.
Have a wonderful evening!
-Brad
I sincerely appreciate reading your thoughts on this issue. As a gay woman living in Shakopee I can’t stress enough how personal this issue is for me. I think sometimes in all the debate folks can forget that this vote will have direct, fundamental ramifications for lives of the LGBT community in MN. In November, we vote on whether or not we get the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples. We’re going to vote on the potential choices I’ll be able to make in my life. Passing the amendment for a lot of people is a moral issue, a religious issue, a “family” issue. For LGBT folks, for myself, it will determine much more than that. Personally, it will determine whether or not I stay in MN, or choose to move elsewhere, where I can (someday) marry the woman I love. Thank you for pointing that out. I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future!
Hello, your articles here Marriage Amendment | Moving Shakopee Forward to write well, thanks for sharing!