Former Vice President Walter Mondale
and former Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz have
been named co-chairs of a lawyers group opposed to Minnesota's
proposed constitutional amendment which would define marriage as a
heterosexual union.
Mondale and Blatz will speak at a
Thursday fundraising reception for Lawyers United for All Families.
The reception, to be held at the Graves
601 Hotel in Minneapolis, will benefit Minnesotans United for All
Families, the official campaign working to defeat the amendment in
November.
“Our constitution is a hard-earned
gift from those who preceded us, and an enduring promise to those who
will follow us,” said Mondale in a statement. “It should be used
to protect individual liberty, not to take it away.”
Added Blatz: “At this crossroads in
Minnesota's history we must not allow our state's constitution to get
caught up in the prevailing winds of the day. We may disagree on how
best to recognize committed same-sex couples, but I believe quite
firmly that legislating this issue by constitutional amendment is
both inappropriate and a threat to the legacy of our state.”
(Related: Jon
Stryker gives $325K to fight Minnesota gay marriage ban.)