American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey
When talking about the Constitutional Amendment, it is important to talk of it in terms of marriage. Even though this amendment does not expand marriage rights, ultimately the question that is on people's minds is whether or not they believe that all people should be able to get married.
A great way to start the conversation about marriage is to tell a story. Tell a story about why marriage matters to you, it doesn't matter if you are gay or straight you have a story to tell about marriage. If you are straight you can talk about why it is important to you that you have the ability to get married and why you would want someone else to have that opportunity. If you are gay talk about why it is important to you.
Here are a few talking points:
- Marriage is about love and commitment, but this amendment makes marriage about the government limiting who can love.
- The reason the State recognizes marriage is so family members can legally care for one another and protect one another. This protection should be afforded to all families.
- Marriage says "We are family" in a way that no other word does.
- Most straight couples would never want someone telling them they couldn't marry, and when they think about it, many say they wouldn't want to deny that for anyone else. Most straight couples would never want someone telling them they couldn't marry, and when they think about it, many say they wouldn't want to deny that for anyone else.
- By passing this amendment we are allowing the Minnesota Constitution to take a side in a religious debate.
- Allowing committed gay and lesbian couples to get married does not change the meaning of marriage.
Talking points taken from www.whymarriagematters.org, a project of Freedom to Marry.
