Community Corner

Organization Fighting Marriage Amendment Moves Headquarters to Eagan

Hundreds attended a Burnsville rally hosted by Dakota County Votes No, a new organization aimed at defeating a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.

For one Dakota County couple, the struggle for "Freedom to Marry" predates the Minnesota Marriage Amendment by over four decades. 

“It’s déjà vu. This is sheer ignorance and pride—just like 45 years ago,” said Thea Harriday, an Apple Valley resident who met her husband, an African American, over 43 years ago.

At the time, less than a decade had gone by since the U.S. Supreme Court had ruled anti-miscegenation laws unconstitutional in 1967 (Loving v. Virginia). Though Minnesota was one of a handful of state that never enacted laws forbidding interracial marriage, the social stigma against it was strong, Harriday said.

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Memories of the difficulties she and her husband faced decades ago drove Harriday to participate in a rally held on Sunday in Burnsville by Dakota County Votes No, an aggressive new campaign to rally locals against Minnesota's proposed marriage amendment.

The organization plans move into its new headquarters in Eagan this week. The group will set up shop in an office off of Cliff Road and Interstate 35E, at 1964 Rahncliff Road. As soon as the water is turned on, they will begin their campaign in earnest, with a phone bank on Thursday.

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Gaining Steam

The Sunday rally, staged at , was the group's first major event, although the movement has been quietly gaining steam since the Republican-led legislature approved the measure last year. In November, the fate of the marriage amendment will be decided by Minnesotans voting at the polls.

Dakota County Votes No grew out of smaller grassroots efforts by local residents and faith groups, said Veda Kanitz, a member of Burnsville’s and a science teacher at Rosemount High School. She said Open Circle jumped into the fray after the bill was passed last year.

The church hosted weekly events and staged house parties to rally against the amendment. Each week attendance grew slowly but steadily, Kanitz said, from 10 to 20 to 30 people.

“We’re holding this kickoff to energize our base, get people out to vote and start meaningful conversation about this amendment,” Kanitz said Sunday.

Disowned

Harriday said her family disowned her and over 200 relatives living in the Twin Cities boycotted the wedding—an especially painful reminder of the prejudice that surrounded the young couple. Many years would go by before the Harridays' marriage was recognized in all 50 states.

After four decades, Harriday’s family has come around and many have apologized, but she doesn’t want her own daughter, a lesbian, to have to endure the same hatred and societal censure she did.

She said she was shocked when the legislature presented the amendment to the governor’s office, which is why she and her entire family decided to join Dakota County Votes No.

“People should be able to marry the people they love. [Being LGBT] is not a choice,” Harriday said. “And these are the same people who say the government should stay out of our personal lives.”

“It’s legal in Iowa,” Harriday added. “What’s wrong with Minnesota?”

At this point, public opinion seems to be split down the middle, said Kim Hansen, an Inver Grove Heights resident who serves as the regional organizing director for the south metro area.

“We know this is close and it’s going to remain close,” Hansen said. “We feel that with our strategy, which focuses on deeply relational stories, we can sway undecided voters.”

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