The Moment of Victory in Minnesota (2012)

At 1:45 a.m., Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom of Minnesotans United for All Families announced to campaign staff and board members that the vote on the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Minnesota was too close to call. As he was about to end his remarks and tell everyone to get some sleep, Carlbom was told by the campaign's communications director Kelly Schwinghammer, "The AP just called it." An impromptu, joyous, tear-filled celebration ensued. It was the first time in U.S. history that an anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment had been defeated. (Video by Robert Arvid Nelsen)

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[presto668]

No one cares because marriage isn't just about being a baby factory. Otherwise why do we extend benefits to opposite sex couples that either don't want or can't have children?

[John Clavis]

"Marriage regulates procreation"? What does that mean? Procreation can occur in a variety of ways today. That variety increases every year. Soon, anyone who wants to have a kid will just order one.

Marriage is about two people who want to form a union. If two wounded (possibly infertile) veterans return from war with a desire to marry, because they love one another & want to share the benefits granted to married couples, what does the combination *or* the functionality of their genitals matter?

[Lizzie Crowe]

And Minnesota passes the bill for full marriage equality via legislation.

[Kelsey Alexander]

Love, and know that you are loved. It is a hard commandment, but we were not called into being for only easy things.

[Kelsey Alexander]

No, wfmkk. You are not to be the last comment on this. Not as you were then.

To any who come after and may look at this and these comments, take heart! For Creation and we within it are dark and terrible things, but also there is within and without us much goodness, much love. Ever will you have to rise to the occasion, ever will you have to stand against the loathsome impulses that anger and fear can bring us, as long as you live, but that is not a call to despair. For ever do we slowly grow.

[wfmkk]

1. Civil marriage necessarily involves the state; it's not a private matter.

2. If not for children, then why else would the state CARE about your love? There is no other substantial reason.

3. The state has no way of knowing whether a PARTICULAR couple will procreate, because the state cannot violate that couple's privacy.

4. The state knows that some 85% of heterosexual couples **do** have children, while homosexual unions are ALL STERILE.

[wfmkk]

"... and to remain in such a relationship if children arrive during the marriage unexpectedly. The recognition of same-sex marriage would not further this interest in heterosexual 'responsible procreation.' Therefore, the legislative classification of extending marriage benefits to opposite-sex couples but not same-sex couples is reasonably related to a clearly identifiable, inherent characteristic that distinguishes the two classes: the ability or inability to procreate by 'natural' means."

[wfmkk]

"What does that mean?"

This might help explain:

tiny*cc/Morrison

"One of the State's key interests in supporting opposite-sex marriage is ... to encourage opposite-sex couples ... to procreate responsibly. The State [even] identified the protection of unintended children resulting from heterosexual intercourse as one of the key interests in opposite-sex marriage. The institution of marriage both encourages such couples to enter into a stable relationship before having children ..."

(continued)

[wfmkk]

"Procreation can occur in a variety of ways."

It is IRRELEVANT that 1 in 5,000 births (or whatever the minuscule fraction) occurs as a result of technological intervention. Over 99.9 percent of children are still conceived by natural means.

"just order a kid"

You and your ilk need to read "Brave New World". Then you might realize how silly such statements as yours are.

huxley*net/bnw

Incidental infertility does not negate the link between marriage and procreation.