Why is an amendment for equal rights to the Minnesota Constitution necessary?
It is true that all gender issues (except adultery laws) in Minnesota statutes have been meticulously equalized (thanks in part to Representative Phyllis Kahn). But legislation can be rolled back. The Legislature can repeal a statute with a simple majority vote. We feel that to suggest legislation is enough is to say that equal rights between men and women are not important enough to be protected and upheld in the State Constitution. Other Constitutional amendments that currently exist include authorizing a state lottery, protecting hunting and fishing rights, dedicating money to the environment, and authorizing money to Vietnam and Persian Gulf Veterans. Few would argue that these provisions are more important than equal rights for all the citizens of our state.
