Come To The Capitol, Thursday, January 22

I'll be demonstrating for marriage equality at the entrance to the House chamber on Thursday, January 22 at 10 AM. Then, I will move over to the entrance to the Senate chamber at 10:30. Please join me. FREE STICKERS!

SF120 Introduced In Senate

The Marriage and Family Protection Act has been assigned a number and is on it's way to becoming the law of the land, making legal marriage an option for all same-gender couples just as it is for different-gender couples in the State of Minnesota. Next, is a hearing in the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill Dropped In

After speaking with Senator Marty and his legislative assistant, Laura, I dropped in the Marriage and Family Protection Act today which will be introduced on Thursday when the Senate meets. Although we were considering having the bill introduced on February 12, National Freedom To Marry Day, there are advantages to getting the bill in early. It's an indication of good organization and that added credibility will help gain support.

No drop-in date for the House yet.

Monday Monday

David Strand and I were in front of the Senate protesting and a group from Colombia came up to have their picture taken behind the banners. Que bueno!

Representatve Jeff Hayden signed on today, bringing the House total to 19. Thank you, Rep. Hayden! Senator Patricia Torres Ray signed on too, filling the senate bill. Thank you, Sen. Torres Ray!

Senate Meets Today, Monday, Jan. 12 At 11:00, House 1:00

David Stand will be joining me at the Capitol today to protest and hustle for co-sponsors. We'll be in front of the Senate at 10:30, House at 12:30. I will have the shower curtain that reads, "LET ME MARRY MY PARTNER OF 18 YEARS." The numbers 16 and 17 from previous years of protest are crossed out on the banner.

Thursday January 8 at the Capitol

I started the day out with a pass through the State Office Building looking for potential co-sponsors. Representative Bill Hilty from Finlayson was in his office and signed on after a brief pitch, bringing the House total to 18.

The Senate had a floor session at 11. I was joined by David DeGrio for shower curtain duty in front of the Senate. Thank you David! He got right into it and pitched a senator for co-authorship of the bill.

David also spoke with Rep. Joe Mullery, the chair of the committee the bill will be going to, and obtained important information about Mullery's support level. He'll vote for it but we need more than that from him as committee chair.

If you live in Joe Mullery's district, please call his office, 651-296-4262, and thank him for his support but also ask him to fight for passage of the Marriage and Family Protection Act in his committee, the Civil Justice Committee.

Opening Day At The Capitol

David Strand and I arrived at the Capitol about an hour before the legislature convened. When we entered the hall in front of the House chamber, the first person we saw was Speaker Keliher whom I smiled and nodded to. She was speaking to a woman who glared at me as I put my bag down, pulled out a shower curtain and unfurled about five feet away from them. It felt good to be back.

There was a camera crew from Albert Lee set up in the middle of the hallway. David was chatting with them and then came over and asked if I would do and interview with them, whispering "don't forget to plug the website." They asked the basic questions of what I was doing there and how long I'd been doing it. And, I did plug the website.

We picked up three more co-sponsors during the time in front of the House, sporting the bill jackets in my back pocket, ready to fold the shower curtain and whip them out when a prospect came by. Reps. Carolyn Laine, Tina Liebling and Linda Slocum became co-sponsors of the Marriage and Family Protection Act today. Thank you!

Yesterday, while attending the single payer healthcare rally in the rotunda, David picked up a co-sponsor that was a surprise to me because I didn't really know him at all. Rep. David Bly of Northfield signed on. Thank you!

About ten minutes before the hour, I left David at the House and went over to the Senate to display until the doors closed. The shower curtain said, "I WANT MY CIVIL MARRIAGE RIGHTS."

There was no anti-gay protest whatsoever though I thought there might be one. I did see Ruth Ann once but she was just passing through.

We now have 17 lawmakers signed on in the House. That's 3 more than last year and it's only opening day.

Legislature Convenes Tuesday, January 6 at Noon

David Strand will be joining me inside the Capitol in front of the House chamber at 11:00. The usual shower curtainage will be on display. As always, anyone is welcome to join the peaceful protest. I have extra signs.