DULUTH, Minn. — In passing a resolution Monday, Duluth became the first city in Minnesota to take a stand against the proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, which is slated to appear on the ballot for a statewide referendum vote in November 2012.
The Duluth City Council passed the resolution Monday in a 6-2 vote, with one city council member absent, having left prior to the vote’s roll call.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, several city councilors earlier were critical of the council taking up the matter, suggesting it was not the proper venue, but they remained silent at Monday’s meeting.
“Equality concerns me. It will always concern me,” said Councilor Jeff Anderson, who co-sponsored the resolution. “This directly affects and impacts people in the city of Duluth.”
“This is about maintaining inclusive communities that will help us grow and thrive,” he said, suggesting that Duluth’s future will be brighter if people view it as a welcoming city.
Following the meeting, Councilor Jim Stauber said he opposed the resolution because he didn’t think the city council was the proper venue “to convince people whether to support this amendment or not.”
“The good citizens of the state of Minnesota will all get a chance to vote on this. It’s a pretty simple issue, and people should be allowed to vote,” he said, adding that on a personal level, he is supportive of the amendment.
Council President Sharla Gardner, who co-sponsored the resolution, contended that the city shouldn’t remain silent on important issues.
“I believe the role of city government is to be the front line of democracy,” she said.
Filed under: Minnesota
Florida teen fighting criminal charges related to same-sex relationship
Wash. florist who refused flowers for gay couple’s wedding files suit against state
Texas judge enforces ‘morality clause’ to split up lesbian couple
Catholic school: Transgender student must wear girl’s graduation gown
Another Ore. bakery refuses to provide wedding cake for same-sex couple
Matt Barber tweets homophobic cartoon of gay man tricking Boy Scout into sex
UPDATED: Police call fatal New York City shooting an anti-gay hate crime
Sex and the teenage girl: The Kaitlyn Hunt tragedy
Iowa anti-gay activist explains his opposition to gay marriage: ‘It’s awful’
Details emerge in case against teen accused of lewd behavior with girlfriend
Parents sue S.C. hospital over child’s gender assignment surgery
Scottish cardinal to atone for sexual misconduct with younger clergy
BREAKING: Minn. governor signs marriage equality bill — ‘Love is the law’
BREAKING: French president signs marriage equality bill into law
Everything is bigger in Texas – even the homophobia
GREAT, I live in Minnesota too -__- I’ve been to Duluth as well SMH
*DIS-FUCKING-LIKE*
Good job! :-)
This is good Thaddeus ;)
Thaddeus: OPPOSING a constitutional ban
G00d
This is Absolutely Wonderful, Splendid! Great push for the LGBT movement! Hope it works!
I live in Duluth! =D I was happy to hear this..
The majority should never vote for the minority !
I agree Heriberto especially when it comes to equality. It should never be about what a majority thinks. My relationship is none of their fucking business.
Minnesota, of all places.
Good for them. Denying marriage to same sex couples makes a mockery of marriage. Last night I heard that only 50% of couples are married anymore. That’s another step down from last year. It seems we’re the only ones who really care about it anymore and yet they’re spending millions to keep us from getting married. Heterosexuals have some very serious issues.
yeah, but they r from minnesota – seriously, minnesota – remember the morons from fargo?
nothing more to say
good for duluth!!!!!!
Wooo! Never been more proud to be from Cloquet and a Minnesotan! ( literally 10 minutes from Duluth)
Alright Minnesotans, we can do this get out and vote No ban!!!
Not all heterosexuals have issues. I am very much in favor of homosexual relationships and marriages. I don’t think it should matter what sex the person you fall in love with and I don’t see how it is our governments problem. Personally if they want to ban a form of marriage, ban celebrity marriages…how many of those last more than a couple months?
Way to go Duluth!!!!!
Ps Fargo is North Dakota not MN and that has to be one of the worst movies ever made!
Way to go Duluth!!!
Thaddeus…You are a douche!!!!!
Please don’t lump all heterosexuals together in your statement. It is the same as those that do have issues claiming that all LGBT people are pedophiles. This is not true and according to polls, there is a slim majority but still a majority that support marriage equality. Those that are pushing this discriminatory amendment most certainly have serious issues, but this is not all heterosexuals.
A wise man once said “What you eat don’t make me sh*t”. I feel like this applies to the issue of gay marriage quite well.