PHOTOS: Rice County Group Launches Campaign Against Marriage Amendment

More than 250 people gathered at on Monday night in support of the Rice County Votes No program, an effort to defeat a proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

Rev. Eva Cavaleri, an Episcopal Priest and Chaplain at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, was one of the speakers at the event. Following the event, she told Northfield Patch that she had been privileged to be part of many different faith communities that have accepted families of all shapes and sizes.

“I have come to recognize that people love who they love and that love I don’t think should be limited in any way,” Cavaleri said.

Also part of Monday’s event was a performance by the Coalition Choir, the reading of an original poem written by Rob Hardy and speeches from Marie Frederickson, who spoke about the experience of her son coming out in high school, and Kate Wall, who talked about her life and relationship with her partner. Breakout sessions followed the general assembly.

Thirty-one states have constitutional amendments banning gay marriage. The measure has passed in every state in which it was on the ballot. Eight states, as well as the District of Columbia, have legalized gay marriage.

In the coming weeks Cavaleri said she looks forward to having conversations with people to talk about why it’s important to let people love who they want to love.

“I hope that it’s with that spirit and heart that people will go to the polls in November and vote against the amendment," she said.

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