In November, residents of Maine, Minnesota, Maryland, and Washington will face a marriage question on the ballot. The second in a four-part series called ”Marriage for All Families” highlights the stories of gay couples from Minnesota as told by actual gay couples.
“There’s a lot of diversity in Minnsota,” says Justine, “I’ve always felt like this is my home; I belong here.” Justine and the love of her life, Theresa, live with their two daughters in St. Paul. But after ten years together, Justine would love to introduce Theresa as her wife. “That feels right,” she says.”
Michael and Jamil, celebrating their third wedding anniversary, explain that they are a married couple just waiting for it to be legally recognized in Minneapolis. “Nothing about our situation is any different from anybody else,” says Jamil, “I fell in love with him, he fell in love with me.”
Together for 12 years, Marika, a librarian, and Regina, a teacher, are raising their daughter June in St. Paul. They worry about legal issues other couples take for granted. “We were saddened that we had to hire a lawyer to make sure that if anything happened to me during childbirth that Regina would have rights to the child,” laments Marika. “I rarely think about the fact that I’m in a same-sex relationshop until there’s something that I can’t get,” she says plainly, “I can’t cover both Regina and June under my healthcare, and that sucks.”
Minnesota law already defines marriage as being between one woman and one man. The anti-gay marriage amendment—seemingly driven by spite—would serve to enshrine bigotry and discrimination the state’s constitution.
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