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Health & Fitness

SD48 Executive Committee supports Sen Hann

                       
Contrary to what the media would have you believe, Republicans are a diverse bunch.  When it comes to gay marriage we fall on all sides of the issue, resembling Minnesotans accross the State who are so broadly divided about the implications of redefining marriage.  This debate is a healthy sign of democracy in action.

But one thing that Republicans are not devided on is the imprtance of liberty in a free society.  Without the ability to speak freely and live according to our beliefs, the American experiment is destined to fail.  Unfortunately, the new gay marriage law is a step backwards for individuals and religious freedoms in our state.  Senator Hann and the 29 other Senators from both parties who voted against the bill righly recognized it's fatal flaws.

We don't have to take their word for it.  During the debate in the legislature, several prominent religious liberty experts testified that the law would violate religious liberty protections guaranteed by the Constitution.  For example, a local florist can be sued and forced to provide services for a same sex wedding, even in doing so violates her faith and conscience.  This exact scenario has already played out in Washington, and we can expect similar battles to further divide Minnesotans and hurt family-owned business in coming years.

Even beloved faith-based community instituions like school and hospitals will be required to accept state-imposed definition of marriage in their everyday functions, otherwise be stripped of funding like Medicare reimbursments or educational grants for texbooks.

The citizens of Minnesota depend on our government to protect all our rights, but this law gives preferential treatment to some while ignoring the constitutional rights of the rest.  We're very thankful for legislators like Senator Hann who have been willing to defend the personal liberties of all their constituents, rather that only the loudest few.

Alia Arellano and Steve Smith (Co-chairs) on behalf of the SD48 Executive Committee

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