Letter of Welcome to the St. Olaf College Community (2005)
Dear Colleagues,
Annually a welcome is extended to all members of the St. Olaf Community to join the "SOLGEN-Allies" e-mail list. All 106 people on the list are extending this welcome and invitation to you.
This year the importance of the majority’s role in protecting minorities in a democratic society is more apparent than ever. Last Thursday, March 31st, the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 77-56 in favor of placing before voters an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution to prohibit marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. Supporters of the constitutional amendment said it would prevent courts from allowing same-sex marriages, even though state law already prohibits them. Democrats said a gay-marriage ban would trample the civil rights of a minority without helping troubled heterosexual couples. Rep. Karen Clark, DFL-Minneapolis, said the ban on gay civil unions would threaten health benefits and legal rights now extended to same-sex partners and take away basic benefits from GLBT people. The next step is for the Minnesota Senate to consider the constitutional amendment.
The SOLGEN-Allies e-mail list allows participants to stay informed about issues and events pertaining to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Oles and to the wider community as well. It raises up the humanity of your gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender colleagues. Join the SOLGEN-Allies e-mail list by writing solgen-info@stolaf.edu.
Who Is SOLGEN? Among us are individuals who have been employed here for 15 years, for 5 years, or were recently hired. We are faculty. We are staff. Beyond the Hill, we live in the Twin Cities, in Northfield, in the country. Some of us are single, and others live in faithful committed relationships of 1, 10, or 20 years. We have children; we are St. Olaf parents; we are St. Olaf alumni. For the differences we have, we all share a commitment to the mission of St. Olaf College.
SOLGEN is the St. Olaf Lesbian and Gay Employee Network, an organization for faculty and staff at St Olaf who identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. The SOLGEN list is maintained confidentially. If you would like to join the confidential list, send an e-mail to solgen-info@stolaf.edu.
SOLGEN-Allies are members of the St. Olaf Community who care about gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender colleagues, friends, and family, and who wish to learn more. Please consider adding your name to the SOLGEN-Allies e-mail list by writing solgen-info@stolaf.edu.
