The Independence Party of Minnesota announced Tuesday its intent to join the campaign to defeat a ballot measure that, if passed, would amend the Minnesota Constitution to ban same-sex marriage. As one of three political parties in the state with majority status, the party plans to actively campaign against the recently-passed ballot initiative in hopes of defeating the measure.
According to the Minnesota Independent, the party will collaborate with Minnesotans United for All Families, a local coalition dedicated to defeating the proposed amendment. Independence Party chair Mark Jenkins issued a statement on the party’s decision to join the campaign, explaining, “Our platform declares that ‘We oppose having the government impose state-sponsored morality or values on people of good conscience with differing views. This is a perfect example.”
The party will hold several events in the months leading up to the 2012 election to raise awareness on the issue, Jenkins said.
Spokesperson for Minnesotans United, Donald McFarland, told the Independent that the campaign is “thrilled” that the Independence Party has joined them in an effort to strike down the amendment. “It is clear that Minnesotans from across the political spectrum agree that government should not be deciding which Minnesotans have the opportunity to marry,” said McFarland.
Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has also spoken out against the ballot measure, which was proposed by the Minnesota Republican Party as part of their party platform.
