H/T to JoeMyGod for this moving clip from today's Minnesota House testimony on marriage equality. Former Republican State Representative Lynne Osterman appeared before the House to urge the body to pass the marriage equality bill. In doing so, she tearfully stated her regret for voting for Minnesota's Defense of Marriage Act during her one term in office.
Here are the highlights:
I served as a Republican because of my interest in smaller government. And it was incredibly counter-intuitive to me to then, upon my arrival, tell citizens how the government wanted them to live their lives. I didn't come to St. Paul to single out same-sex couples and their families, but in my only term as a member [tearing up], I cast a politically expedient vote in favor of DOMA. And I have regretted that ever since. It was not my conscience or my own compass.
Nothing in my life says it's okay to treat people differently than how I would want to be treated--fairly, respectfully, equally. And that's really what this conversation is about. Whether you believe in big government or small, do you believe in fair? Respectful? Equal? Is it ever okay to say, well, except for those people?
Voting no [on marriage equality] today, this session, might seem politically expedient. But I can tell you from experience that you will have to live knowing that a no vote is not fair. It's not respectful. And it's not equal. [tearing up] I blew my vote. And I'm imploring you, please get this right. Minnesota's citizens just want you to lead.
And here's the video:
Yes, the damage from Osterman's vote is done. But, even though she's not in office anymore and some might say that it's easy to get things right after one is done in office, I give her credit for appearing before her former colleagues and urging them to come down on the right side of history. I also give her credit for admitting her mistake, admitting that she took the politically expedient way out of real leadership, and trying, in this small way, to advance equality.
Here's hoping the currently serving members take her advice. Although, I'm not so sure it's politically expedient for some of them to take a stand against equality.
1:38 PM PT: H/T to sfbob: The marriage equality bill has now passed out of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee. On to the full Senate!