In May, 2011, Minnesota politicians voted to pass a proposed Constitutional Amendment which would deny equal rights to all Minnesota citizens. Past proposed amendments to Minnesota’s Constitution have always sought to expand equal rights, not deny them.
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”
– George Santayana, 1905
Irrational fear, hatred, and bigotry have left many stains on our nation’s otherwise proud history. What is amazing is that some politicians, in 2011, believe that it’s still alright to vote in favor of discrimination.
The few politicians who were willing to speak openly about their proposed Constitutional Amendment gave the same arguments used by politicians in the 1950s and 1960s as they opposed Equal Rights for Blacks.
There is NO valid state interest in adding discrimination to Minnesota’s Constitution.
It’s important that the names of the politicians responsible for yet another setback in our nation’s long struggle toward true freedom for all be available for generations to come. Their names appear below.
Please do not use this list to harass these poor misguided souls. If you do, you’ve missed the intended message. Help educate them, and hold them accountable, but do not harass them.
If you happen to meet any of these individuals at a family gathering, a social affair, or in work setting, it might be very appropriate to ask why they support discrimination. Everyone – especially their children and grandchildren – should ask them about their vote.
Listen carefully to their answers. Do they repeat the same irrational reasons given by past opponents to equal rights to justify discrimination? Do they say they are only following their religious teachings? Do they believe that their religious views, no matter how faulty, must be added to our nation’s laws? If so, which religious views? All of them, or just the ones they believe in? Why can’t they see that discrimination harms our nation?
Critical listening and open discussion is needed to shine a light on those who would advocate discrimination. Eventually, all politicians must learn that irrational fear, hatred, bigotry, and discrimination have no place in this great nation. Only then will we have a truly free nation.
In May, 2011, the following Minnesota politicians voted (SF-1308) for a proposed Constitutional Amendment to deny Equal Rights to all:
Rep Jim Abeler (R-Anoka)
Rep Bruce Anderson (R-Buffalo Township)
Rep Diane Anderson (R-Eagan)
Rep Paul Anderson (R-Starbuck)
Rep Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth)
Rep King Banaian (R-St. Cloud)
Rep Bob Barrett (R-Shafer)
Rep Michael Beard (R-Shakopee)
Sen Michelle R. Benson (R-Ham Lake)
Rep Mike Benson (R-Rochester)
Rep Kurt Bills (R-Rosemount)
Sen David M. Brown (R-Becker)
Rep Mark Buesgens (R-Jordan)
Sen John Carlson (R-Bemidji)
Sen Roger C. Chamberlain (R-Lino Lakes)
Rep Tony Cornish (R-Good Thunder)
Rep Roger Crawford (R-Mora)
Sen Gary H. Dahms (R-Redwood Falls)
Sen Theodore J. "Ted" Daley (R-Eagan)
Rep Kurt Daudt (R-Crown)
Rep Greg Davids (R-Preston)
Rep Matt Dean (R-Dellwood)
Sen Al DeKruif (R-Madison Lake)
Rep Bob Dettmer (R-Forest Lake)
Rep Denise Dittrich (D-Champlin)
Rep Connie Doepke (R-Orono)
Rep Keith Downey (R-Edina)
Rep Steve Drazkowski (R-Mazeppa)
Rep Sondra Erickson (R-Princeton)
Rep Dan Fabian (R-Roseau)
Sen Michelle L. Fischbach (R-Paynesville)
Rep Mary Franson (R-Alexandria)
Rep Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington)
Sen Paul E. Gazelka (R-Brainerd)
Sen Chris Gerlach (R-Apple Valley)
Sen Joe Gimse (R-Willmar)
Rep Steve Gottwalt (R-St. Cloud)
Rep Glenn Gruenhagen (R-Glencoe)
Rep Bob Gunther (R-Fairmont)
Rep Tom Hackbarth (R-Cedar)
Sen Dan D. Hall (R-Burnsville)
Rep Rod Hamilton (R-Mountain Lake)
Rep David Hancock (R-Bemidji)
Sen David W. Hann (R-Eden Prairie)
Sen Gretchen M. Hoffman (R-Vergas)
Rep Mary Liz Holberg (R-Lakeville)
Rep Joe Hoppe (R-Chaska)
Sen John Sterling Howe (R-Red Wing)
Rep Larry Howes (R-Walker)
Sen Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria)
Sen Michael J. Jungbauer (R-East Bethel)
Rep Andrea Kieffer (R-Woodbury)
Rep Debra Kiel (R-Crookston)
Rep Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake)
Sen Amy T. Koch (R-Buffalo)
Rep Lyle Koenen (D-Clara City)
Sen Benjamin A. Kruse (R-Brooklyn Park)
Rep Morrie Lanning (R-Moorhead)
Rep Ernie Leidiger (R-Mayer)
Rep Mike LeMieur (R-Little Falls)
Sen Ted H. Lillie (R-Lake Elmo)
Sen Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove)
Rep Kathy Lohmer (R-Lake Elmo)
Rep Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie)
Rep Tara Mack (R-Apple Valley)
Sen Doug Magnus (R-Slayton)
Rep Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington)
Rep Joe McDonald (R-Delano)
Rep Carolyn McElfatrick (R-Deer River)
Rep Carol McFarlane (R-White Bear Lake)
Rep Denny McNamara (R-Hastings)
Sen Geoff Michel (R-Edina)
Sen Jeremy R. Miller (R-Winona)
Rep Mark Murdock (R-Ottertail)
Rep Pam Myhra (R-Burnsville)
Sen Carla J. Nelson (R-Rochester)
Sen Scott J. Newman (R-Hutchinson)
Sen Sean R. Nienow (R-Cambridge)
Rep Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls)
Rep Tim O'Driscoll (R-Sartell)
Sen Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista)
Sen Julianne E. Ortman (R-Chanhassen)
Sen Mike Parry (R-Waseca)
Sen John C. Pederson (R-St. Cloud)
Rep Joyce Peppin (R-Rogers)
Rep Branden Petersen (R-Andover)
Rep Duane Quam (R-Byron)
Sen Claire A. Robling (R-Jordan)
Sen Julie A. Rosen (R-Fairmont)
Rep Linda Runbeck (R-Circle Pines)
Rep Tim Sanders (R-Blaine)
Rep Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne)
Rep Peggy Scott (R-Andover)
Sen David H. Senjem (R-Rochester)
Rep Ron Shimanski (R-Silver Lake)
Rep Kirk Stensrud (R-Eden Prairie)
Sen LeRoy A. Stumpf (D-Plummer)
Rep Chris Swedzinski (R-Ghent)
Sen Dave A Thompson (R-Lakeville)
Rep Paul Torkelson (R-Nelson Township)
Rep Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City)
Sen Ray Vandeveer (R-Forest Lake)
Rep Bruce Vogel (R-Willmar)
Rep Doug Wardlow (R-Eagan)
Rep Torrey Westrom (R-Elbow Lake)
Sen Pam Wolf (R-Spring Lake Park)
Rep Kelby Woodard (R-Belle Plaine)
Rep Kurt Zellers (R-Maple Grove)
We must never allow them, or us, to forget. Please share this list of names with everyone who believes in Equal Rights. Post it on your blog or on your social networking site. Make it easy for search engines to find, so that their ancestors will know the truth.
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