MN AFL-CIO Throws Its Muscle Behind Fighting A Statewide Marriage Ban

While “The North Star State” gears up to for a 2012 marriage equality battle at the ballot box, the leadership of the Minnesota American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (aka the AFL-CIO labor unions) have voted unanimously to oppose the anti-gay amendment; making our fantasies of sexy construction workers even sexier.

“The labor movement is, and has always been about protecting and advancing the rights of all people,” Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson said. “We will not stand by and allow discrimination to become part of Minnesota’s constitution.”

You can read their full resolution at the link above or you can just read the gayest and sexiest parts below:

WHEREAS: State-sanctioned civil marriage provides rights and responsibilities set out in over 500 Minnesota laws available to opposite sex couples, but not same sex couples; including negotiated health coverage for state and local public employees, workers’ compensation, unemployment benefits paid to a survivors, and laws affecting couples during illness and even death; and

WHEREAS: Trade unionists believe that our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters undeniably deserve the same benefits as their heterosexual counterparts; and

WHEREAS: The Minnesota Constitution has never been amended to discriminate against any group of people by denying them civil rights; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED: That the Minnesota AFL-CIO opposes the 2012 general election ballot question recognizing marriage as only between one man and one woman.

Surely the AFL-CIO knows that it also has LGBT workers in its ranks who would be harmed by the anti-gay ballot measure. We support them making a principled stand and hope they can encourage others to do the same.