North Takes a Stand in the Marriage Debate

North Takes a Stand in the Marriage Debate

By Ricky Nelson

            The vote on an amendment to ban gay marriage in November is putting immense pressure on the citizens of Minnesota, and it trickles down, even to the high school level.

            Here at North high we enjoy a great diversity in terms of race, wealth and even sexual orientation, but such diversities are not without conflicts.

 In an informal survey ten people were asked their opinion on the subject, 7 said they were pro-gay marriage, 2 said they were neutral and 1 said they were against. The results indicate that nearly 70 percent of the group was for gay marriage and against the amendment.

Hanna Thompson (sophomore) said “I don’t understand why people aren’t allowed to love who they love.” She also said on the topic of gay adoption rights, “I see so many kids neglected by straight parents, when gay couples adopt they are making the decision because they are prepared to raise a child.”

North high has a Gay and Lesbian alliance club which promotes the tolerance of different sexual orientations and the acceptance of all people. The club has operated for several years and has been met with general optimism by the student body.

The sentiment at North high is generally in favor of gay marriage with only a small opposition. This could be due to the fact that North is located in an urban area in a northern state, or it could be a reflection of the changing times and opinions of a new generation of Americans.