Letter: Vote 'no' on marriage amendment

Our local Evangelical Lutheran Church in America synod, Southeast Minnesota, voted this month to oppose the marriage amendment that will be on the ballot Nov. 6.

I live in Wisconsin but I'm serving as a clergy person in Red Wing and I agree wholeheartedly with this decision. We in the ELCA have long struggled with the question of the full inclusion of sexual minorities and we've agreed to disagree even as we welcome, care for, and support them and work to advocate for their legal protection. Not everyone in our church is of one mind regarding same-sex marriage, but many of us in the church and as clergy support the full inclusion of all people and all families into the life and ministry of the church and work to end discrimination of all kinds.

Even if you disagree that same-gender couples should be able to marry, you can still vote “no” on this amendment on the basis of simple justice.

This amendment would be the first time in Minnesota history that the Constitution was used to limit freedoms of a minority group rather than protect them. This amendment would have negative consequences for many families in our community, including my own.

I urge you to vote "no" on the marriage amendment.

Rev. Karen Hanson

Maiden Rock

Tags: opinion, letters