My name is Jeff Zuckerman.

At the time the Minnesota Marriage Amendment passed, I was a 56-year-old Minnesotan who had lived proudly in this state for well more than half my life.

I went to graduate school in this state. I met my wife in this state. I raised my children in this state. I've fished in this state, skied in this state, voted in this state, and likely will be buried in this state.

If you’re interested, I am a teacher at the University of Minnesota and Walden University. I play second base and catcher each summer in St. Paul with a bunch of old men. I like old movies and eat meat.

I am also someone whose grandparents came to this country from Eastern Europe because of religious persecution. My father was a young immigrant, too, and he fought for liberty in World War II.

And I think when it comes to civil liberties most Minnesotans get it. Because I think most Minnesotans are pretty reasonable.

That’s why this is a rant-free zone. I think if most Minnesotans hear a few pretty good reasons from their neighbors—and maybe not all 365 of them will be—I think they’ll reject this amendment.

If you want to talk all this over, contact me at 365PrettyGoodReasons@gmail.com.

If you want to watch a bunch of old men play softball on Friday nights, we play at McMurray Field near Como Park.