So, Connecticut has become the 3rd state in the union to legalize gay marriage. The fine folks of Connecticut came to this place via lawsuit. A number of gay couples, upon having their marriage license applications rejected, banded together and sued the state.

As you’ll recall, there is a group preparing to bring a similar lawsuit against the state of Minnesota.

It is the stated opinion of a number of Minnesota’s most-respected LGBT advocacy organizations — namely Rainbow Families/Family Equality Council, OutFront Minnesota, and Project 515 — that legislation is the way to go, not litigation.

Read on for the How and the Why…

As posted at Shower Curtain Chronicles.

Three Minnesota couples, including Duane and myself, are preparing to sue the state of Minnesota for denying us our constitutional right to civil marriage. The Minneapolis law firm of Mansfield, Tanick and Cohen has been selected to bring the case against the state. Because the legal fees associated with this case are expected to be thirty to forty thousand dollars, litigants are seeking thirty to forty lesbian and gay couples to join in the suit, which is expected to be filed later this summer.

If you and your same-sex spouse would like to be a part of this historic battle for civil marriage rights in Minnesota, or know of any couples who are sick of being treated like second class citizens and having NOTHING done about it, please call 763-219-1206. Thank you.

I hate that litigation is the way this has to be done. I think that, sadly, this is the easiest way to accomplish this goal. I hate that I can’t rely on my fellow Minnesotans to do what is fair and just (by voting).

I think that there are more appropriate ways to achieve equality (e.g., by truly separating civil marriage from spiritual institutions). At the same time, marriage is not the be-all and end-all of equality, though it does kill a lot of birds with one stone.

Despite the time and effort and money I put into legal fees and drawing up paperwork, it will take one trip to the hospital to turn my world upside down. My partner at least has her parents nearby. I’ve got no one.

So if this is what we have to do, let’s do it.

• June 1: The Minnesota Historical Society is holding a state-wide open house (i.e., free admission) at all of their parks and historic sites. There are eight such sites in the metro: Mill City Museum, the State Capitol, Fort Snelling, Sibley House, Minnehaha Depot, Alexander Ramsey House, Minnesota History Center, James J. Hill House.
• Starting in November, Alaska Airlines will offer roundtrip service from MSP to Seattle. That’s a new carrier at MSP. They’re offering a special introductory rate of $139 (one-way) between MSP and SEA so if you wanted to do that fly out, drive back (or vice versa) thing, here’s a good chance.
• Chuck Olsen has Atmosphere on Conan.
• “Sharp increase in anti-LGBT violence in Minnesota.”
• “Minnesota Nice? Fuck That.” Verbal assault at the Holiday Station. What a douche!
• The University of Minnesota has entered their solar-powered vehicle, Centaurus, in the 2008 North American Solar Challenge. (And I’ll just point out that my alma mater, the University of Michigan, has won four of the eight races.)
• MinnPost has video of the Minneapolis Art on Wheels project. Super cool! Commenter suggests projecting on the side of the Xcel Energy Center during the RNC.
• “Good to the last drip: Minneapolis to spend $180,000 to market its (wait for this) tap water.”
• The Walker, mnartists.org, and The Unconvention are sponsoring a competition for artist-designed political yard signs called My Yard Our Message.
• Memorial Day Weekend is the time for the Northstar Classic Softball Tournament. There are all sorts of activities surrounding this giant gay softball tournament.
• That Lunds that has been under construction for three years at 12th & Hennepin could end up two blocks up the road, and bigger.

Lastly, because I can’t let it go, you need to look directly at the Taylor Carik = Bon Iver photo.

Image courtesy of mthomps00. Okay, I’m done with that.