Responses to Common Misconceptions and Concerns About Marriage Equality

Some people are concerned that once there is marriage equality in Minnesota, their church will be forced to perform and recognize marriages that they don’t believe in.

• This will not happen! We will work on writing language into legislation that will make it very clear that churches and other places of worship will not be forced to perform or recognize any marriage they do not wish to.
• Right now many churches do not perform marriage if they do not wish to. For example, many Catholic churches do not perform marriages between people not of the Catholic faith, and no one is trying to make them do that. It will be no different with when there is marriage equality for same-sex couples in Minnesota.

Why don’t we just have civil unions or domestic partnerships?

• By having a separate name and arrangement for same-sex couples, and excluding them entirely from civil marriage, we are creating a “separate but equal” status. This is not fair, and certainly not equal. The message that this sends is one of second-class citizenship.
• Neither civil unions nor domestic partnerships give committed couples and their families the recognition or protection that they need. Such institutions will still deny these couples the full ability to take care of their loved ones to the best of their ability.
  

It is a common misconception that marriage equality is new, and it’s just a social experiment, which will have unforeseen consequences.

• Same-sex couples have been forming unions throughout history, as is most recently seen in the past five years in Massachusetts. As the past five years in Massachusetts has shown, the “consequences” of marriage equality is the strengthening and well-being of families throughout the state.
• Same-sex couples will form families with or without civil marriage. But, with marriage equality, couples, families, and their children will be legally protected and given the same opportunities that all marriages and families are entitled to.