Bonoff: ‘I’m Standing Here for My Family, for My Friends, for Constituents’

Sen. Terri E. Bonoff (DFL-District 44) was unquestionably conscious of the historical nature of  Monday’s same-sex marriage vote in the Senate—and its echoes across the country.

“I am so honored to speak on the Senate floor on this issue because I know that I’m not standing up here as me, as Terri Bonoff, state senator. I’m standing here to bring a voice for all of those who are not standing on the Senate floor but feel so strongly,” Bonoff said. “I’m standing here for my family, for my friends, for constituents—but really people all over the state, all over the country and even around the world. Because this conversation we’re having today is not an isolated conversation. In chambers like ours around the country—and in places around the world—these same conversations are taking place.”

But Bonoff quickly drilled down to the people she knows who’d be affected. She described learning that her brother was gay more than 30 years ago. Although they accepted him with love, they worried about how the rest of the world would respond, she said.

She also talked about a close friend from college who died from AIDS and neighbors down the street.

For all those people, Bonoff said, she planned to “press this green vote.”