Apathy is hard to come by at Gustavus.

Seriously. Even those whose lives revolve around such seemingly apathetic activities as skipping class and all-day Call of Duty marathons most likely watch enough of The Daily Show online to have a cause célèbre of choice.

It’s hard to come here and find nothing to champion, no club through which to galvanize fellow students into support, no international crisis to rally against. Heck, I was a total slacker in high school. Now I’m in a leadership position in two organizations, in a music ensemble that meets five times a week, working for admissions and doing independent research on the side.

Oh yeah, and I write for The Weekly.

This seems to be a common trend for campus involvement. It’s either at the microcosmic level (i.e. Gustavus-centric clubs, sports and Greek life) or at the global, idealistic level (Crossroads, Building Bridges, I Am We Are, to name a few). And that’s logical. For better or for worse, we most easily connect either with things that are immediately tangible and accessible, or with issues that can be readily condensed into an idea or concept. But although we may be engaged citizens of the world, there are areas of importance that even we conscientious Gusties tend to neglect.

Which brings me to the Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

I know, the vote isn’t until November. But with the constant distractions of national-level politics and donations for both sides ramping up into the millions, now is as good a time as any to be informed.

The Minnesota Marriage Amendment would legally define marriage as being between one man and one woman. That is, two consenting adults engaged in a loving, long-term, exclusive relationship would be denied the legal and social benefits of marriage if they happened to be of the same biological sex. Sexual orientation and gender identity become moot points—two people would need one penis and one vagina between them to qualify as a married couple in the state of Minnesota, were this law to pass.

Never mind that, in the truest historical sense, “traditional” marriages were often solely business ventures or otherwise arranged. Never mind that the ability to reproduce is not the issue at hand, as there are plenty of sterile heterosexual couples out there. Never mind that freedom of religion and the separation of church and state should preclude any religiously-motivated legislation from being enforced on the general populous. If you’re not doin’ the dirty deed the way nature intended, “married” is not something you should ever hope to become.

Religious belief is not even the issue here. If you are of a more faithful inclination, then the religious validity of your marriage is between you, your church and your respective deity. However, from a legal, secular standpoint, there are no logical reasons to deny two consenting adults the right to marry and enjoy the tax benefits and social standings that accompany marriage.

There is no logical reason for this legislation to pass. However, it is apparently a contentious issue, and as such has two very vocal activist groups supporting either side of the argument. On the side of tradition and “family values,” we have Minnesota for Marriage, an amalgamated lobbying group that pulls support from the National Organization for Marriage and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, among others.

On the side of marriage equality, Minnesotans United for All Families has been garnering support from secular and religious institutions alike (the Episcopal Church in Minnesota and the Minnesota Rabbinical Association both recently announced that they would not support the bill). Both groups have been fastidiously preparing for the November election, less than eight months from now, when this legislation will finally appear on the ballot.

Eight months may seem like a long way off, but staying informed about local politics is important regardless of any impending elections. And the message that this bill sends will be received nationwide, in its acceptance or in its defeat. Stay informed, and whether you believe in the equal right to marriage or not, know who to support and who is supporting you.

I certainly know where I stand.