Best of 2012

Proposed Amendments Draw Huge Community Response: No. 5 Story of the Year

One of the most followed stories of the year.

Richfield Patch covered a lot of different stories, topics and events throughout 2012, but there were a few that stood out as the most interesting, important or possibly infamous to our readers. The following is the No. 5 story of the year. *** Election Day 2012 was no doubt a very important day for every Minnesotan. Not only was every Minnesota state legislator up for re-election, but voters were faced with two major constitutional amendments. The marriage amendment would've defined marriage as between one man and one woman, while the photo voter ID measure would've required all to present a valid state ID in order to cast a ballot. Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter While …

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Best of 2012

Richfield Couple Puts Local Face on Gay Marriage Debate: No. 8 Story of the Year

One of the most read and recommended stories of 2012.

Richfield Patch covered a lot of different stories, topics and events throughout 2012, but there were a few that stood out as the most interesting, important or possibly infamous to our readers. The following is the No. 8 story of the year. *** Rev. Dr. Robyn Provis and her wife Kathy Luebbe found love online after both were married to men, had children, and for many years lived the life they thought they were supposed to. “It wasn’t part of my radar to think of myself as gay,” Kathy told Richfield Patch last summer. “I just thought, ‘If you work long enough and hard enough, these attractions will go away.’” After 8 years together, the Richfield residents who were married in Toronto, Canada, told their story to Patch readers as the state…

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After DFL Wins, Could Legislature Repeal State's Ban on Gay Marriage?

DFL leader coy on prospects.

With a resounding victory Tuesday night and the DFL now primed to assume control of the 2013 legislative session, a prominent state senator is suggesting incoming lawmakers could try to repeal a Minnesota law banning same-sex marriage. A prominent Minneapolis legislator, though, said it was too early to discuss legalization. Roseville state Sen. John Marty said he sees Tuesday night's election results as a changing of the guard. After just two years at the helm of the Minnesota Legislature, Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate on Tuesday night—a defeat at least some Democrats are attributing in part to the marriage and Voter ID  amendments. Voters rejected both amendments by votes of 53 percent to 47 percent. During …

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If Marriage Amendment Passes, What Happens Next?

MN United, MN for Marriage have a number of options if things don't go their way.

Regardless of who wins Tuesday’s vote on Minnesota's marriage amendment, this likely won't be the last voters will hear of the issue. Recount A Possibility If the final vote tallies are close, expect a recount, said Raleigh Levine, an election law professor at St. Paul's William Mitchell College of Law. Election results won't be announced for several hours, but political parties on both sides seem to be lawyering up in case any one race requires a recount, but according to Minnpost, the main group opposing the amendment has also retained an election lawyer. Still, Levine said, don't expect a repeat of the 2008 battle between Sen. Al Franken and then-Sen. Norm Coleman unless one side's margin of victory is only a few hundred votes. The …

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A Guide to the Minnesota Marriage Amendment

A guide to all of Richfield Patch's coverage of the proposed amendment.

*** See Richfield Patch's Election Guide for more information on local, state and national races, as well as ballot questions and candidate profiles. *** When voters hit the polls Tuesday, Nov. 6 they will be tasked with voting on a variety of candidates and measures, including the proposed constitutional amendment regarding marriage. The question on the ballot will read: Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?  Marriage between two gay individuals is not currently recognized by Minnesota law. A ballot cast with no vote on this question will count as a "no" vote. This amendment would also invalidate common-law marraiges for …

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The Gay Marriage Debate

Minnesota Marriage Amendment: Why I'm Voting 'Yes'

Voters will asked to cast their vote for or against the measure Nov. 6.

On Election Day 2012, voters are charged with a very important task. Not only will they be casting their vote for local, state and national races for government office, but also in favor or opposition of a constitutional amendment regarding marriage in the state of Minnesota. If passed, the state's Constitution would be amended to state that marriage is only between one man and one woman, reflecting current state law. Voting "yes" on the ballot measure means you do support the changing of the Constitution. Voting "no" means you do not support the change. Patch asked readers to share why they are voting for or against the measure. The following are submitted statements from Richfield and Twin Cities area residents who are voting "yes": Reed…

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Denise Siegel

8:00 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012

They are threats to society. The human race can become extinct. Maybe not in our lifetime. You can't go around calling everyone a bigot just because you don't agree with someone or don't understand their reason. "Bigot" is a strong word and a cop out for same-sex marriage proponents to truly understand the other position. They think by using the word "bigot" will ostricize the religious right and…   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Pastor: Withholding Marriage Rights is a 'Tragic Misuse of Our Electoral Process'

Richfield resident Rev. Dr. Robyn Provis says the proposed marriage amendment is a solution without a problem in the following Letter to the Editor.

Dear Editor, I doubt I’m alone in being tired of the political rhetoric this election season. Spin doctors are actively a part of our culture. We say veal to distract us from the reality that we’re eating baby cows. We say faux instead of fake because fake is less marketable. And November 6 we will vote on the so called “defense of marriage act.” By spinning it that marriage needs defending, proponents hope to sell it as the opposite of what it really is: discrimination dressed up in fearful rhetoric. Marriage is not a zero sum proposition! Amending our state's constitution is a solution without a problem. Even a school child knows the constitution was created to protect the rights of its citizens, not take them away.   The only …

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The Gay Marriage Debate

New Poll Shows Even Split Between Voters on Marriage Amendment

The poll was conducted between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25

According to a new poll commissioned by the Star-Tribune, support and opposition to the marriage amendment is essentially tied. The amendment would write a prohibition on legal recognition of same-sex marriages into the state constitution, reflecting current law. Of 800 likely Minnesota voters, 48 percent told the Minnesota Poll's questioners that they would be voting to pass the amendment and 47 percent said they opposed the measure; five percent said they were still undecided. The poll was conducted between Oct. 23 and Oct. 25, and respondents were reached using both cell phones and landlines. The poll's margin of error was 3.5 percent, plus or minus. September's Minnesota Poll also showed a deadlock between the two sides. +/- 4.3% +/- 3…

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The Gay Marriage Debate

Gay Marriage Amendment Splits Richfield Lutheran Churches

Two different Lutheran denominations in Richfield have taken opposing positions regarding November's ballot initiative.

With less than a month to go before Minnesotans vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between one man and one woman, Richfield Lutheran churches remain divided over the amendment, their support or opposition split firmly along denominational lines. While the city’s four Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) churches are—as a result of a vote taken by the larger ELCA Minneapolis synod last February—officially opposed to the amendment, churches that are part of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) are supporting it. In Richfield both Berea Lutheran Church and Mount Calvary Lutheran are part of the LCMS’s southern district synod, which in June voted to support the marriage amendment. The four ELCA …

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