Showing posts tagged personal note

New years update

I wanted to provide a quick update to my followers and those that may stumble upon this blog.

In NOvember, we defeated the mean-spirited marriage amendment in Minnesota. However, please don’t think that my lack of updates means that our work is done. We still have a journey ahead of us in 2013, and for years to come, to help create a culture of equality for committed same-sex couples.

With that said, I’ve taken a pause from my work here as my father is very sick and my family has been helping to care for him here in Minnesota over the past couple of months. He is currently in a home hospice program and we continue to celebrate each day we have with Dad.

Please know that I appreciate all of the support each of you has provided over the past year. You helped make a big difference, not only in Minnesota, but around the nation in helping Minnesota become the first state to defeat one of these freedom-limiting amendments.

Please don’t let your voice be silenced now.

Thank you for everything you’ve done and will continue to do,
-Mark 

Minnesota,I’m going to keep this brief for this evening: Congratulations. You stood on the side of equality and said NO to the mean-spirited marriage amendment. Today, you made history. Not only here in the land of 10,000 lakes, but around the world. We are the first state in the nation to defeat one of these mean-spirited measures. I said early on when I started this blog, “The tide isn’t changing, it’s already changed.” Tonight confirms that belief for me. We celebrate with Maryland and Maine that also voted in favor of equality today and we wait, with excitement, for Washington state to be called on Wednesday. For all of your support and everything you’ve done to help defeat this amendment, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you. To a new day,Mark 

Minnesota,
I’m going to keep this brief for this evening: Congratulations. You stood on the side of equality and said NO to the mean-spirited marriage amendment. Today, you made history. Not only here in the land of 10,000 lakes, but around the world. We are the first state in the nation to defeat one of these mean-spirited measures.

I said early on when I started this blog, “The tide isn’t changing, it’s already changed.” Tonight confirms that belief for me. We celebrate with Maryland and Maine that also voted in favor of equality today and we wait, with excitement, for Washington state to be called on Wednesday.

For all of your support and everything you’ve done to help defeat this amendment, from the bottom of my heart, I say thank you.

To a new day,
Mark 

My very personal final plea

Sharing with you a personal note that I posted on Facebook this early morning. May you be blessed with the same love and support that I’m fortunate to receive every single day.


Friends and family,

Today, Minnesota has the chance to make history. We have an opportunity to say NO to amending our state constitution in a way that would limit the rights of committed same-sex couples. Whether you realize it or not, in a way, you are voting on me. In less than 24 hours, Minnesota will have had the chance to say whether or not I should permanently be prohibited from marrying the man that I love (who I hope to meet one day!).

While I don’t often talk about how this discussion impacts ME personally, I want you to know that the fact that we even have to have this conversation hurts me deeply. To know that there are Minnesotans who believe that if I have the right to marry someone I love, people will someday want to marry sheep… Words cannot express how deeply that hurts. Tonight on Nicollet Mall, I was told that I will burn in Hell for eternity for my “sin of homosexuality.” In a moment, I was reminded that I may forever be deemed less than in the state of Minnesota if this amendment passes.

Fortunately, I’ve been surrounded in my life by a wall of love and support that helps deflect some of those words. I’m blessed to know tremendous allies who support me unconditionally. I have been reminded time and time again, that no matter what happens today, we’ve changed hearts and minds in Minnesota and that we’ve touched history for the better. For that support - and for all you do - I say thank you.

We have the ability to defeat this thing; it’s well within reach. But no matter the outcome, I know that you will be there with open arms to support me. And for that, I consider myself tremendously blessed.

Minnesotans, it’s my last ask. Please, Vote No on the mean-spirited marriage amendment. When you do, smile, and think of all of the people just like me that are relying on your strength and support at that very moment.

With love (and hope),
-Mark

Night before the election: emotions run high

What an emotional night. In 24 hours the polls will be closed in Minnesota and history will be decided. I know in reading a lot of status updates tonight, I’m not the only one filled with emotion right now.

Scared, anxious, excited, nervous… but most of all, hopeful. Hopeful that we do what is right in Minnesota - that we stand up for equality and say NO to amending our constitution to limit the rights of others.

It’s the golden rule. Treat others like you would want to be treated.

Minnesota, this is it. Show me the inner good that I know you are filled with. Please vote no on Amendment 1.

Blog Milestone: November 3, 2012

As of today, MinnesotaForEquality.com has logged over 40,000 unique visitors! Thank you to everyone for all of the support! [read more]

Employee job satisfaction

In August, Randi Luoto wrote a letter to the editor in which she shares a survey she conducted on job-satisfaction issues. [read more]

It’s hard to believe that in just 14 days, we will be voting on whether or not Minnesota should amend the state constitution to limit the rights of marriage. If passed, this change would permanently eliminate the right for loving same-sex couples to make a commitment to one another. If the mean-spirited amendment doesn’t pass, same-sex marriage is still not legal in the state of Minnesota. State statute already defines marriage as one man, one woman. However, by defeating this amendment, we allow for future generations to continue the conversations we’ve already started here in Minnesota. If you’re still on the fence, read through some of the resources on this site. If you’re still not sure after that, please contact me. This amendment impacts me. It impacts my friends. It impacts my family. It impacts my coworkers. It impacts my community. It impacts real Minnesotans. In 14 days, I hope that you will stand with me and vote NO.

It’s hard to believe that in just 14 days, we will be voting on whether or not Minnesota should amend the state constitution to limit the rights of marriage. If passed, this change would permanently eliminate the right for loving same-sex couples to make a commitment to one another.

If the mean-spirited amendment doesn’t pass, same-sex marriage is still not legal in the state of Minnesota. State statute already defines marriage as one man, one woman. However, by defeating this amendment, we allow for future generations to continue the conversations we’ve already started here in Minnesota.

If you’re still on the fence, read through some of the resources on this site. If you’re still not sure after that, please contact me.

This amendment impacts me. It impacts my friends. It impacts my family. It impacts my coworkers. It impacts my community.

It impacts real Minnesotans.

In 14 days, I hope that you will stand with me and vote NO.

It’s the one-day “Double Double!”

I’m offering to MATCH dollar-for-dollar every single donation made to my personal fundraising page until midnight tonight (October 20) (match offer now expired)! On top of that, the HRC has offered to MATCH dollar-for-dollar every single donation given to Minnesotans United for All Families in that same timeframe.

If you could turn $50 into $200 instantly, would you do it? Well now you have that chance! A $50 donation via my personal fundraising page becomes $100 with my personal match. Then, the HRC comes in and matches that and your donation becomes $200. It’s the “Double Double!”

Even if you’ve donated before, now is your chance to make a big impact in the final two weeks before the election! Reblog to get the message out!

Match offer has now expired

*Mark’s match is valid for all donations made via the personal fundraising page  between 11:00am CST 10/20/2012 through 10:00pm CST 10/20/2012; dollar-for-dollar match applies up to the first five hundred dollars raised between the timeframe listed; I am not responsible for errors or typos related to the fundraising page or transaction; I am not associated with Minnesotans United or the Human Rights Campaign

Happy birthday to me.

Some might find it odd that I’m writing a birthday note to myself. But here I am doing just that. You see, I’ve spent the majority of the past year of my life writing about Minnesota, equality, gay marriage and the “mean-spirited marriage amendment.” I’ve received some not-so-nice emails and comments along the way, but the positive ones have more than made up for them. As I look back on this journey, I smile at some of the messages of support I’ve received:

I want to be able to say that I did my part in this lifetime to fight for what is right! I can’t begin to tell you how much your support means! I will be fighting alongside of you for the next 23 days…and for as long as it takes! 

I appreciate you and your efforts! Keep up the great work.

Keep up the good work.  I am talking to anyone who will listen to me at work. People like you are changing the world…

LOVE this blog… I have your back!!!

Moved to tears. Thank you Mark.

May God continue to bless you as you share your point of view, which I continue to proudly support!

I won’t lie and tell you it hasn’t been a lot of work or that there haven’t been days that I’ve thought, “I’m just too tired to post something today.” But as I look back at the collection of nearly 500 posts and 50,000+ page views, I realize the power that one person can have in this world. Have I convinced people that have visited this site to vote NO with me? I’ll never know. But have I helped educate, inform and influence people? You bet.

And that’s what we’ve all been attempting to do since day 1. When Minnesotans realize that this amendment hurts real people, when they understand another point of view and when they see just who is impacted by this amendment, they are more likely to vote NO.

To my friends that asked me, “Mark, what do you want for your birthday?” I joked, “A resounding defeat of the marriage amendment!” Of course, that gift doesn’t just come from my friends. It comes from strangers. From other Minnesotans that stand up and say NO to writing discrimination into our state constitution.

When they’ve asked me, “No, really, what do you want?” I’ve made one simple request: Please make a donation to my Fundraising Page celebrating me, my journey, my efforts, this blog. There’s no greater gift to me than the support and love of my friends, my followers and strangers across this great state that have stood with me.

So what’s ahead for the next year of my life? I don’t know. Had you asked me that question last year at this time, I could never have predicted the journey I was about to embark on. What I do know is that I hope to celebrate the defeat of this mean-spirited amendment. I also know that, no matter what, my friends, family and loved ones will stand by my side, as they have throughout this year.

For those that are not yet convinced that you have the power to influence and make change, I leave you with my favorite quote from Margaret Mead:

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Here’s to an exciting new year. I can’t wait to unwrap my present on NOvember 6th.

-Mark

First guest blogger: Dee Dee

It’s been almost a year since I’ve started this blog journey. In that time, I’ve seen so much good in people. Unfortunately, I’ve also seen a lack of understanding from many amendment supporters. In today’s guest post, one of my closest friends shares her thoughts on that one simple word, understanding.

Amendment supporters receive 2 million influx

In case you missed it last week, same-sex marriage opponents announced a significant influx of dollars to their campaign to the tune of 2 million dollars. The National Organization for Marriage (NOM) sent out an email about a donation match offer from an “anonymous donor” (of course the donor is anonymous; NOM never seems to have to disclose where their money comes from). For every dollar donated to NOM, the anonymous donor will add two more dollars to match. The total haul? 3 million dollars to ensuring same-sex couples are treated unequally by the law.

Here are some excerpts from the e-mail NOM sent out to their supporters:

What would you do to raise $3 million to protect marriage from Barack Obama and his wealthy homosexual lobbyists?

A couple paragraphs later, they take another stab at Obama, call out their success in passing Prop 8 in California and let supporters know they’re working hard in Minnesota:

The National Organization for Marriage is the most effective pro-marriage organization in America fighting Obama’s attempts to re-define marriage. NOM also led the fight to defend every successful pro-marriage campaign since Prop. 8 in California, and we’ve been on the front lines in Minnesota, North Carolina, Iowa, Maryland, and states across the nation.

As always, NOM continues to deceive claiming that same-sex equality is supported by “billionaire gay marriage activists:”

This new $2 million matching grant challenge will help us compete even more effectively with Obama’s billionaire gay marriage activists and wealthy Hollywood celebrities who are determined to impose homosexual marriage as the law of the land.

The reality is that Minnesotans United for All Families raised $2.56 million dollars between July 24 and September 18. That money came from over 25,000 individual donors! And 98% of those donors were from Minnesota! (source) But facts don’t seem to matter to the other side. Anything they can do to rally their troops, even if it means telling outright lies, they’ll do it.

I’m so tired of this outside organization pouring dollars into this state in an attempt to influence Minnesotans. It would be one thing if they were at least honest in their attempts, but again and again, they mislead voters and refuse to play by the same rules as everyone else. It’s time we call them on their shenanigans.

Here’s my simple message to NOM: Get out of my state. Take your lies and dollars elsewhere. Let real Minnesotans have this conversation with each other.

To help counter NOM’s fundraising, please consider making a small donation to Minnesotans United for All Families through my personal fundraising page.

Blog Milestone: September 29, 2012

As of September 29, 2012, www.MinnesotaForEquality.com has officially logged over 20,000 unique visitors! You might recall that less than a month before, I had shared another blog milestone: 10,000 unique visitors. As you can see, interest is picking up for the campaign, but we don’t have a lot of time left.

With 37 days left to go, it’s time for action! I will continue to keep fighting right up until election day in the hope that Minnesota will be the first state in our entire nation to defeat one of these things. Yes, history and polls tell us that it’s going to be tough to defeat (I’ve even heard some say “impossible”), but I believe we’re well on our way. Through telling our stories and having conversations, we’re changing hearts and minds every single day.

This experience has been such an exciting journey, and I know it’s not over yet. To everyone that has emailed me, reblogged me, donated to my fundraising page - thank you.

We’re Minnesotans and we won’t back down. Not now, not ever. We can defeat this thing, and with your help, we’ve got a great chance to beat the odds.

Big Gay Race in pictures

Reblog if you participated in the Big Gay Race!

I came walking down into St. Anthony-Main on a crisp fall Saturday morning and witnessed one of the most breathtaking views of my life. Thousands upon thousands of supporters far as the eye could see – gay men, lesbians, straight couples with children, elderly – gave up their Saturday Morning to unite in support of equality for all. Tears came to my eyes. All I could think is, “We’re Minnesota and we’re showing the world that we’re better than this hurtful amendment”.

Source: Joel L.

Check out the pictures and read more about the day!

Personal fundraising page

With 40 days to go, I’m asking all of my friends to consider donating to help us defeat this mean-spirited amendment. Dozens of billboards from the other side are going to be plastered across the state and scare-tactic commercials will start in just a couple days.

Every single dollar will help. Whether you live in Minnesota or are reading this from afar, please consider donating to the cause. Whether you can afford to give $155 dollars or $5 dollars, it all adds up.

Did you know: If every single follower donated $20, we would be well on the way to achieving the $5,000 goal?

Thank you for continuing to read and share these posts. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing up for MY equality.

-Mark

Over nine months have gone by since I began this blog. I set out to help educate Minnesotans about the marriage amendment and the far-reaching affects it would have on committed same-sex couples in Minnesota. Through the process, I’ve had the chance to talk with dozens of Minnesotans and I’ve been able to connect people to resources. In a small way, I hope that I’ve been able to influence what some may think about same-sex commitment and the rights that those couples deserve. It may sound weird to say this, but seeing the sample ballot today suddenly makes all of this very real. In fact, it saddens me to see this ballot in front of me in black-and-white. I mean, logically, I know that November will come. However, up until this point, we’ve been preparing for a battle that secretly, I was hoping we wouldn’t have to fight. But here it is. Right here for everyone to see. Sure enough, we’re voting on my rights. My ability to celebrate love. My ability to share in the same benefits granted to my peers. Me. If you can’t say NO because your conscience doesn’t allow or because you’re worried what your spiritual leaders may think, simply leave the question blank. Because, if you fill that oval in next to yes when you go to vote, you are truly saying, “Mark, you are less than other Minnesotans” – and I know in my heart, that’s not the Minnesota I love. Please vote NO.

Over nine months have gone by since I began this blog. I set out to help educate Minnesotans about the marriage amendment and the far-reaching affects it would have on committed same-sex couples in Minnesota. Through the process, I’ve had the chance to talk with dozens of Minnesotans and I’ve been able to connect people to resources. In a small way, I hope that I’ve been able to influence what some may think about same-sex commitment and the rights that those couples deserve.

It may sound weird to say this, but seeing the sample ballot today suddenly makes all of this very real. In fact, it saddens me to see this ballot in front of me in black-and-white. I mean, logically, I know that November will come. However, up until this point, we’ve been preparing for a battle that secretly, I was hoping we wouldn’t have to fight. But here it is. Right here for everyone to see.

Sure enough, we’re voting on my rights. My ability to celebrate love. My ability to share in the same benefits granted to my peers. Me.

If you can’t say NO because your conscience doesn’t allow or because you’re worried what your spiritual leaders may think, simply leave the question blank. Because, if you fill that oval in next to yes when you go to vote, you are truly saying, “Mark, you are less than other Minnesotans” – and I know in my heart, that’s not the Minnesota I love.

Please vote NO.