Gov. Mark Dayton and his two restaurant-owning sons are helping raise money to fight the proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.
The governor and his sons — Eric and Andrew, who own the Bachelor Farmer restaurant in downtown Minnesota — are working for the effort to get voters to vote no on the amendment, scheduled to be on the November ballot. The proposal, if passed, would define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Minnesotans United for All Families, a group urging a no vote on the amendment, says that through June 12, the two Dayton brothers will match donations to the group's campaign, up to $200,000.
In an email, the brothers wrote: "It's simple: Committed, same-sex couples should have the freedom to marry. Together, we can contribute $400,000 toward Minnesotans United's efforts to protect that freedom."
(The brothers' restaurant got some great publicity last week, when President Obama ate there on his trip to Minnesota.)
And the governor will host a fundraising event for the v0te-no effort June 19.
The "First Ever MN Governor's Pride Reception" is June 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Courtyard at Washington Lofts, 801 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis. Suggested donation $25, $100, $250 or $500.