Posted at: 07/30/2010 6:57 PM
By: Sarah Swistak

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Marriage Debate Heats Up in Rochester

(ABC 6 NEWS) -- The National Organization for marriage is crisscrossing the nation, visiting more than 20 towns, on a mission to promote and protect marriage as a union between a man and woman.
 
It's already made two stops in Minnesota, because members believe the state's on the verge of same-sex legislation, and now, they're making a stop in Rochester.
 
One glance at all these cop cars, and you knew something big was going on at the New Life Worship Center.
 
"While we have, what might seem like, a large police presence, given some of the history of this group and the protestors that follow them around, we felt it was warranted," said Sgt. John Sherwin.
 
Up at the top of the hill, more than a dozen officers and an incident command bus stood guard as the National Organization for Marriage kicked off its rally.
 
"We know what marriage is, and we don't want it redefined.  When you redefine that it has public consequences," said Brian Brown, President of the National Organization for Marriage.
 
Brown says he's traveling across the nation with his wife and six kids in this RV to activate and energize supporters.
 
"It's not about hatred. It's not about discrimination. And we're not going to be silenced. We're going to continue to stand up and speak," said Brown.
 
The goal is to round up two million signatures to stop same-sex marriage.
 
"Any two people have the right to live the life that they choose, but they don't have the right to define marriage for the rest of society," said Brown.
 
But further down the hill, Bob Werner and his partner of 17 years couldn't disagree more.
 
"Rochester is not about discrimination. Rochester is about fairness and this type of discrimination is not something we want in our town," said Werner.
 
What he does want is equal treatment under the law, something he believes same-sex marriage would provide.
 
"If a heterosexual couple gets a marriage license in Minnesota, they're entitled to 515 legal protections, rights, and responsibilities.  Gay couples presently get none of those, so I think it's important legal equality," said Werner.
 
Unlike other tour stops there weren't any conflicts at today's rally.
   
The group is heading to Des Moines hoping to tackle that state's current same-sex union legislation.