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Carol n Curti From: support@civicplus.com Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2012 2:11 PM To: Carolyn Curti Subject: Online Forrrt Submittal: Contact Human Rights Commission Thc following form was subtnitted via your website: Contact Human Rights Commission Subject:: marriage amendment Name:: Judith Thoreson Address:: City:: Roseville State: . MN Zip:: 55113 How would you prcfer to be contacted? Remember to fill in the corresponding contact information.: Email Phone Nurnber:: Ernail Address:: Please Share Your Comment, Question or Concez�c�: I was pleased to hear the Human Rights Commission of Roseville was going to vote on whether to join other cities in Minnesota to condemn this amendment. Never before have we amended our constitution to discriminate against one group of people. As a Human Rights Commission, I doa't see how you could vote any other way. My husband arid I have been �narried for 40 years. During that time, we have learned the true meaning of rnarriage- commitment, love, responsibility, raising a family, and growing old together. Some people say marriage is just about pracreation. Since our children have grown, we have had many years to learn what marriage is really about. Tk�e last 20 years have been about Iearning what " in sickness and in health; for better or poorer" really means. Leaning on each otner when parents and siblings die. Being there for each other through diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Now that we are ncaring rctircment, we realize how important it is to be legally able to inherit pensions, insurance, houses, and to have the right to decide last wishes if illness s�ould become terminal. Every one should have these rights, which are only available through marriage. Some people will say that gay marriage is condemned in the Bible, Well, so is divorce, and we don't see those people working hard to pass an anti-divorce amendmenl. The state recognizes divorce, even though some churches choose not to. That would be tb.eir choice with gay marriage, as well. And the state constitution is not the place to be passing arr►endments based on religion, since we have a vast difference of opinion among churches on this issue. This amendnaent would prevent future discussion and legislation on the whole issue of marriage equality. It is not a"protector" of traditional marriage, since allowing same-sex couples to comrnit to one ano#her for a lifetime does not in any way changc rnarriage for any of us, I urge you to vote against this mean- spirited amendment.