OUTFRONT Minnesota Action Alert!

This just in! TAKE ACTION!



3:47 p.m., Thursday, March 04, 2004

Saint Paul, MN



This just in: Representative Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville), House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R-Kenyon) and 26 other Representatives just introduced a constitutional amendment to bar the legal recognition of same-sex relationships in Minnesota. For the first time ever, the proposed legislation to amend the Minnesota's Constitution would require overt discrimination in the form of a ban against the legal recognition of same-sex relationships.



Minnesota’s Anti-Marriage Amendment (MAMA) (HF2798) will be heard in the House’s Civil Law Committee on Tuesday, March 9 at 2:30pm in Room 10 of the State Office Building. OutFront Minnesota is encouraging supporters of GLBT rights to do three things in the next week:



1. Contact the members of the Civil Law Committee with either a phone call or an email. Keep your message succinct: “I oppose any efforts to write discrimination into our state’s constitution. Please vote against the proposed constitutional amendment to bar the legal recognition of same-sex relationships.”

2. Attend the Civil Law Committee Hearing. People who support fairness and equality for GLBT people need to have a strong showing at the hearing to demonstrate to our elected officials that Minnesotans to do not support writing discrimination against GLBT families into our state’s founding document. Remember:

· Show up early to get a seat in the hearing room. There will be an overflow room with the hearing on closed circuit TV, but people arriving early will be able to see the proceedings close-up and in-person.

· Please abide by all of the rules of committee hearings or Capitol Security will ask you to leave. Please do not bring any signs or banners; however stickers and buttons are fine. The most difficult rule to obey is that the audience is not allowed to sigh, laugh, groan or make any verbal sounds. If you do not follow this rule, security will most likely ask you to leave, or if the audience is too loud, security may ask everyone to leave. So please, wear your poker face and bring a notepad to record your thoughts, frustrations and funnies.

3. Plan now for OutFront Minnesota’s GLBT Lobby Day, Thursday, March 25. Literally thousands of people are needed demanding that Minnesota’s Anti-Marriage Amendment be stopped. Pre-registration will greatly facilitate your effectiveness that day.





(The exact language of the bill will be posted on the OutFront Minnesota website within the hour)


Civil Law Committee Contacts

Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL-Inver Grove Heights)

39B

651.296.4192

rep.joe.atkins@house.mn



Rep. Len Biernat (DFL-Minneapolis)

59A

651.296.4219

rep.len.biernat@house.mn



Rep. Dick Borrell (R-Delano)

19B

651.296.4336

rep.dick.borrell@house.mn



Rep. Chris DeLAForest (R-Andover)

49A

651.296.4231

rep.chris.delaforest@house.mn



Rep. Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville)

36A

651.296.6926

rep.maryliz.holberg@house.mn



Rep. Paul Kohls (R-Victoria)

34A

651.296.4282

rep.paul.kohls@house.mn


Rep. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park)

44B

651.296.7026

rep.ron.latz@house.mn



Rep. Eric Lipman (R-Lake Elmo)

56A

651.296.4244

rep.eric.lipman@house.mn



Rep. Thomas Pugh (DFL-South St. Paul)

39A

651.296.6828

rep.tom.pugh@house.mn



Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound)

33A

651.296.9188

rep.steve.smith@house.mn



Rep. Howard Swenson (R-Nicollet)

23A

651.296.8634

rep.howard.swenson@house.mn



Rep. Lynn Wardlow (R-Eagan)

38B

651.296.4333

rep.dale.walz@house.mn