Minnesota AFL-CIO votes to oppose anti-gay constitutional amendment

The Minnesota AFL-CIO, which represents over 300,000 workers statewide, voted to take a stance against the proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment that will appear on the ballot in November 2012. The amendment, which was passed by the state legislature earlier this year, would impose discrimination in the state constitution by narrowly defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The AFL-CIO now joins a growing, broad-based coalition of statewide and national organizations that are speaking out and organizing against the amendment.
 
In a statement released on Monday, Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson said, “The labor movement is, and has always been about protecting and advancing the rights of all people. We will not stand by and allow discrimination to become part of Minnesota’s constitution.” 
 
While the AFL-CIO's support for the freedom to marry in Minnesota is certainly cause for celebration, it is not unprecedented. Labor groups have consistently been vocal supporters of marriage for gay and lesbian couples, including this year during legislative campaigns in Rhode Island and Maryland and the successful push to win marriage in New York. 
 
Freedom to Marry is committed to working with our partner organizations to defeat the constitutional amendment in 2012. Visit the Minnesotans United for all Families website now to learn how you can be a part of the campaign to defeat marriage discrimination in Minnesota.