(Photos by WJON.com's Jim Maurice)

Supporters of preserving marriage as it is rally at local church
by Jim Maurice, WJON.com

ST. CLOUD -- Calling for supporters to "get active and get energized" the President of the National Organization For Marriage brought his bus tour to St. Cloud today (Thursday). Brian Brown says Minnesota will be a battleground state over the issue of gay marriage during this fall's election.

All three DFL candidates and both of the Independence Party candidates for Governor are on record supporting same-sex marriage. The head of the Minnesota Family Council says six bills supporting gay marriage are already in the State Legislature, just waiting for a supportive Governor.

Brown encouraged attendees to sign a petition for marriage.  They're hoping to get two-million signatures during their month-long tour.

He says some of the consequences other states faced, when they legalized same-sex marriage include: adoption issues, forcing schools to teach gay marriage, and non-profits losing their tax exempt status -- if they refused to work with same-sex couples. 

Jan Ophoven of St. Joseph says she's ready to tell her friends about what she heard at the rally.  She says she'll spread the message through Facebook and at her church.