Yes, Senator Koering, the economy is a pressing issue. That does not mean gay rights should be tabled! Openly gay MN Senator Paul Koering decided this week to NOT support a marriage equality measure in Minnesota because they are more important issues and we shouldn't be wasting time on these type of "pointless issues." I agree that the economy is an issue that needs to be worked on - but there are more than ONE issue on the table.

An aide to Koering sent out a blanket email to people who had e-mailed or phoned the Senator about his decision. One thing really stuck out to me in this email. His aide says the following : "do you honestly believe that {the people in the district] would say to you, 'Yes, please, waste the time of the State Legislature with a piece of legislation that will not help, but in fact, overshadow the current situation we're living in? Please, waste their time with this piece of legislation while I tell my son and daughter that mom and dad aren't hungry tonight?"

Well, I didn't realize that him taking 2 minutes to vote on an issue of EQUAL RIGHTS FOR ALL PEOPLE would somehow take so much time away from working on the economy that people would starve. Also, does he know for sure that the majority of people in his district wouldn't want him to vote yes on this issue? Something tells me he hasn't ask them for their take on it. Forget him being gay. That's not the issue here. The issue is that this bill, and others like it, would help a large percentage of Americans EQUAL to the rest.

So, here are some words for Senator Koering to think on - words from the great statesman, Harvey Milk ...

"Somewhere in Des Moines or San Antonio, there is a young gay person who all of a sudden realizes that she or he is gay. Knows that if the parents find out they’ll be tossed out of the house. The classmates will taunt the child and the Anita Bryants and John Briggs are doing their bit on TV, and that child has several options: staying in the closet, suicide. . . and then one day that child might open up the paper and it says, “homosexual elected in San Francisco,” and there are two new options. One option is to go to California. . . OR stay in San Antonio and fight. You’ve got to elect gay people so that that young child and the thousands upon thousands like that child know that there’s hope for a better world. There’s hope for a better tomorrow."

Well, we have homosexuals elected to all levels of government. Where is the fight though? There are still places where gays can be denied renting apartments. They can be denied the right to adopt children in dire need of a home. We still cannot marry the people we love. If that isn't a pressing issue Mr. Koering, I don't know what is. How come when women or blacks were being denied their rights it was something that needed swift justice but now it doesn't matter if homosexuals are being denied their rights? Maybe it doesn't matter to you, but it does to a lot of us. Also, normally I would applaud you for not letting your personal feelings guide you to vote against the wishes of the people, but when it is voting on something that results in people being denied basic rights maybe it is time to get personal.