Others' laws could inform the U.S. debate

This article, written by Kelly Kollman, Barbara Allen and Karen Wright, originally appeared in the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Minnesota and much of the rest of the country have spent a great deal of time over the past two years debating the merits and perceived dangers of extending relationship rights to same-sex couples. Given the level of scrutiny that this issue has garnered, it is surprising how little we have drawn on the considerable experience of other countries to inform our own debate.

Although the U.S. context is clearly distinct -- and obviously we must chart our own course in this matter -- there is much we can learn from developments in other countries. Based on our research on same-sex unions (SSUs) in Western democracies, we think there are some basic facts Americans should keep in mind, some of which may challenge common perceptions about SSUs and their effects.

Although many Americans were surprised when traditionally Catholic Spain opened marriage to gay and lesbian couples last year, the Spanish government was actually following a well-established legal trend in Western Europe. Spain is one of the three European countries, along with Belgium and the Netherlands, that have legalized marriage for gays and lesbians. Eleven other European countries have chosen to recognize same-sex unions through registered partnership, civil unions and/or domestic partnership laws: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Austria and Portugal. The only Western European countries without such laws in place are Greece, Italy and Ireland; the latter has a civil unions bill pending in its parliament. With the adoption of Canada's Civil Marriage Law last summer, the United States is now one of the few Western democracies that does not recognize relationship rights of gay and lesbian couples at the national level.

Standing Against Proposed Minnesota Amendment

Once the State Constitution is used to limit freedom, what minority group will be next?

Amanda Tempel, Vic Rosenthal and Elaine Aron have written a wonderful op-ed which was published recently in the Minneapolis - St. Paul Star Tribune:

In a few weeks, Jews will celebrate the holiday of Passover, which commemorates the liberation of the Children of Israel from servitude and oppression in Egypt. This Passover, we are especially concerned about the proposed amendment to the Minnesota Constitution that would permanently bar the state from recognizing same-sex marriages or civil unions. We view this amendment not only as a threat to the freedom of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Minnesotans, but also a threat to the freedom of all Minnesotans.

2006: Minnesota

When Minnesota voters go to the polls in November, will they be a voting on an anti-gay marriage constitutional ballot measure?

Right now there isn't enough support in the state legislature to get the ballot measure approved, but the radical right has launched an ad campaign in what they think are 12 democratic swing districts on the issue trying to change the vote. For more details, check out this blog post on the DFL Blog.

To help stop this proposed constitutional amendment, check out: www.togetherminnesota.org.