Golden Valley City Council Stands Against Marriage Amendment

The Golden Valley City Council went on record to oppose the marriage amendment Tuesday night. Lawmakers have proposed a constitutional ban on gay marriage, which will be on the ballot this November. Months before voters weigh in, Golden Valley Mayor Shep Harris says he and other council members wanted it on record that the city stands against the resolution.

“We have a large lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population in Golden Valley and I’m proud that our council is willing to weigh in on this issue,” he said. “This amendment ultimately takes away the rights of a select group of people and we have an obligation to protect the rights of all citizens in this city.”

Councilman Mike Freiberg, who brought the city resolution forward, shared similar thoughts.

“I don’t think that our state constitution should enshrine discrimination and I think that is what this amendment does,” he said. “It’s a slap in the face to the LGBT population and I think it’s important to stand up against this.”

Several council members commented on the number of emails and phone calls they received about the issue, and praised residents for being active and informed.

All council members voted in favor of the resolution opposing the marriage amendment with the exception of Councilwoman DeDe Scanlon, who abstained. In a brief phone interview Scanlon said, “I represented a different view and I stated what I wanted to say at the meeting. Anyone that wants to know more can watch the meeting online.”

At the meeting, Scanlon said she was surprised to see this topic on an agenda and read a written statement she prepared. “To me, this is not our role,” she told the audience. “Residents can decide on this issue for themselves in November.”

What do you think about this resolution? We welcome your comments below.