"The only institution that Minnesota Republicans are truly interested in preserving is their slipping grasp on statewide offices," said Eric Stern, NSD Executive Director. "Minnesota Republicans have spent the past month barn-storming the state in an attempt to build support against Democrats in the State Senate who have repeatedly kept this amendment off the ballot in favor of focusing on real issues facing Minnesotan families. Republicans continue their noisy death rattle knowing that polls show that this is their last opportunity to place this amendment on the ballot before they lose the Governorship and State House to Democrats this fall."

According to the Associated Press, Minnesota Republicans plan to distribute to voters the CD which features testimonials supporting the anti-marriage amendment from key Republican lawmakers. Republican officials appearing on the CD include Governor Tim Pawlenty, Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, State Auditor Pat Anderson and House Speaker Steve Sviggum. The testimonials warn of the dangers of granting same-sex couples access to civil marriage and urging support for the constitutional amendment. The release of the CD follows a statewide tour by Governor Pawlenty and other Republican officials in support of the measure.

Technology experts immediately warned of the dangers of using the CD-ROM, and of the potential illegality on the part of the Minnesota Republican Party. In order to view its content, the CD requires users to punch in an ID code while a user can only continue viewing the CD if they answer sporadic questions inquiring their positions on issues such as abortion, gun-control and same-sex marriage. Nowhere in the materials are viewers warned that the information they supply is being gathered by Minnesota Republicans for political and fundraising purposes.

The Minnesota Republican Party's CD-ROM is not officially connected with Minnesota for Marriage, the statewide group pressuring lawmakers to place the amendment on the ballot. However, news reports last month revealed that two of the Minnesota GOP's largest donors have supplied the majority of funds for the non-partisan organization. Minnesota Republicans also face additional ethical questions regarding the ballot initiative. Republican Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer, who appears on the CD-ROM, has previously come under fire for using the clout of her office to endorse anti-gay political rallies and was accused in 2004 of blocking requests by Democratic activists for voter registration materials that her office is mandated by law to supply.

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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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