MANKATO, Minn. -
Perhaps the most intense and emotional debate in the upcoming election—yes or no on an amendment that would change the Minnesota Constitution to define Marriage between one man and one woman.
If you ask Sarah Grandberg–Rademacker why she married her husband Scott, she can give you a variety of reasons.
Grandberg–Rademacker says, "Our shared values, our shared beliefs, our shared love of scary movies."
And she says same sex couples want to marry for similar reasons. Grandberg–Rademacker was among a group of local women—Lawmakers, moms, a pastor—who came together to discuss why they are voting 'no' in November.
Some focused on civil rights and freedom.
Senator Kathy Sheran says, "This is a constitutional amendment we are talking about, changing an essential document of the state."
Paulette Ford spoke about her son, an electrical engineer.
Ford says, "My son also happens to be gay."
She says him and his partner of 10 years are hard working, tax paying, and decent human beings.
Ford says, "Why would we deny them the same opportunity, the privilege, the right to become legally married if they so choose."
With many in support of the amendment citing religious reasons, a clerical collar may seem out of place in this group, but Pastor Collette Broady Preiss says people shouldn't use their religious freedoms to make others less free.
Broady Preiss says, "You can believe whatever you believe about the Bible or whatever your faith documents."
But she says that shouldn't inform the law.
Broady Preiss says, "The church will maintain its right to marry regardless of what the state law says."
The women also pointed out that gay marriage is already illegal in the state of Minnesota, and that won't change if you vote no.
Grandberg–Rademacker says, "A vote no allows us to keep the conversation going and I think it is an important conversation to have."
