Fairgoers Like Their Cheese Curds and Their Gay Rights

by Michael Jones · 2009-09-10 06:50:00 UTC
Topics:

Minnesota State Fair

Minnesota's State Fair was popular for a number of things this year.  There was food on a stick -- from butterscotch coated cheesecake to spaghetti and meatballs -- as well as an appearance by Sen. Al Franken, where he drew a freehand map of the United States that would make even Picasso jealous.  But the fair also gave Minnesotans a chance to weigh in on some of the leading political issues facing the state, and by a large majority, fairgoers supported giving same-sex couples the same benefits that heterosexual couples get.

According to Politics in Minnesota, folks at the State Fair were asked the following question:

Would you support legislation that would provide same-sex couples with the same legal and economic rights and responsibilities as married couples, such as providing health care insurance coverage for one another, inheritance and pension benefits, hospital visitations and medical decision making?

A resounding 61 percent said yes, while 34 percent said no.  Five percent were probably too sick eating their corned beef and cabbage deep fried on-a-stick to respond.

Think the fact that neighboring Iowa, which enacted marriage equality earlier this year, has anything to do with the fact that a majority of folks support equal rights for same-sex couples?  Or could it just be that Minnesota is becoming another bellweather state in the debate over same-sex partner benefits?

(Photo courtesy of theopie's photostream on Flickr.)

Michael Jones is a Change.org Editor. He has worked in the field of human rights communications for a decade, most recently for Harvard Law School.
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