Tuesday afternoon, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL) signed the state’s marriage equality bill into law at a public ceremony. Addressing the crowd, Dayton applauded the state’s progress from defeating an anti-gay constitutional amendment to passing full equality:

DAYTON: What a day for Minnesota, and what a difference a year and an election can make in our state! Last year there were concerns that marriage equality would be banned here forever. Now, my signature will make it legal in two and a half months. First and foremost, I want to thank the people of Minnesota who voted last year to defeat a very destructive constitutional amendment and also to elect courageous legislators who would support this monumental social advance. I want to thank the activists… who worked so long and so hard to win this extraordinary victory. [...]

Last week, I suggested to you legislators that you read John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage book. Instead, you wrote its latest chapter. By your political courage, you join that pantheon of exception leaders who did something truly extraordinary: you changed the course of history for our state and our nation.

Watch his full remarks and the signing:

Minnesota is the 12th state to recognize marriage equality. The law takes effect August 1.

In many of the states that have waged marriage equality fights recently, opponents have often coalesced around a coalition consisting of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), the state’s Catholic conference, and the state’s “family policy council” affiliate of the Family Research Council. In Illinois, however, these typical players have not united in the same way, seemingly in part because the state social conservative group is the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), a hate group in its own right associated with the American Family Association.

IFI’s rhetoric is quite a bit more brazen than what anti-gay groups have used in other states, which may have scared away its would-be allies. As a telling example, NOM posted pictures from an IFI rally last week, but didn’t mention the organization by name nor link to its own post about the rally. Otherwise, NOM’s rhetoric has mostly been limited to threats of retribution against Republicans who might support marriage equality. The Illinois Catholic Conference has issued its own materials opposing marriage equality, and Springfield Bishop Thomas John Paprocki has made his share of negative comments, but there seems to be no coordination with IFI.

Today marks three months since the Illinois Senate passed the marriage equality bill, and with only three weeks left for the House to pass it, here’s a look at some of IFI’s rhetoric that is dominating the opposition:

• Today, IFI posted numerous photos from its rally this weekend, including a sign that reads, “The crime against nature will never be equal.”
• Speakers at the rally included ex-gay advocate Linda Jernigan and another hate group leader, Peter LaBarbera, who told the crowd that homosexuality is “unnatural and wrong,” citing HIV rates among men who have sex with men as evidence of “the dangers of homosexuality.”
• In February, IFI’s Laurie Higgins wrote that gay people shouldn’t even be allowed to teach because they’ll put pictures of their partners on their desk that students will see.
• In fact, IFI believes that parents should pull their children from any classroom that attempts to create a safe environment for LGBT students.
• IFI has claimed gays and lesbians already have equality because they can marry the opposite sex like everyone else; same-sex marriage is thus a demand “to be treated specially.”
• IFI recommends language that demonizes the gay community, encouraging opponents of equality to frame their resistance as compassion.

This extreme rhetoric extends beyond the talking points conservatives have traditionally used in these fights, which tend to focus on supposed protections for children, gender norms, and the institution of marriage. By openly condemning homosexuality as unnatural and curable through therapy — as well as enabling the bullying of LGBT youth — IFI sets itself apart. It remains unclear how many votes short the Illinois House is from passage or what is motivating those opponents, but with IFI’s strong presence in the fight, opponents’ will struggle to deliver a cohesive or approachable argument as the vote approaches.

History has been made in Brazil today, as the National Council of Justice has voted 14-1 to support a resolution stipulating that same-sex couples should be able to receive marriage licenses throughout the entire country. In 2011, the Brazilian Supreme Court had ruled that it was unconstitutional to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, but up to this point, local jurisdictions could decide whether to offer the freedom to marry — 12 states and the federal district had already started doing so.

The council’s decision, which will be published sometime in the coming days, advises that no notary can refuse to perform a same-sex marriage. The ruling could, however, be appealed to the Supreme Court. Previous guidance had suggested that Congress needed to pass a marriage equality law, which it is considering, but Minister Joaquim Barbosa suggested this was “nonsense.”

Pending the implementation of this ruling, Brazil will become the 15th country to offer nationwide marriage equality, joining Uruguay and France, who passed laws just last month.

A new Rocky Mountain Poll released today shows that a majority of Arizona voters support marriage equality — and by a significant margin. According to the survey, 55 percent support the freedom to marry and only 35 percent opposed it. Even among voters over the age of 54, a 46 percent plurality favor the change while 40 percent oppose it. As in other polls, certain groups favored it at higher rates, including Latinos (75 percent), Democrats (70 percent), those under the age of 35 (67 percent), Moderates/Independents (64 percent), and women (60 percent).

Last November, 22-year-old activist Tanner Pritts announced an effort to repeal Arizona’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, but it doesn’t seem to have taken off. Recently, the town of Bisbee established civil unions for same-sex couples, and the city of Tempe may attempt to do the same.

Gallup has just released new data on public support for legalizing same sex marriage.  They describe support as “solidifying” above 50 percent, and that’s not just because of the rise of the younger generation: older folks, according to the new data, are quickly coming around to the marriage equality cause.

According to the Gallup data, support for marriage equality has doubled in the 17 years since 1996 going from a meager 27 percent then to 53 percent now. This is a quite remarkable rate of change: about a percentage point and half per year. At this rate, we’ll hit 60 percent support by 2018:

Why are things changing so fast on this issue?  Many are aware of the big age differences on this issue and assume it’s mostly liberal young people who are driving the change. It’s certainly true that young people are very liberal on same-sex marriage: 70 percent of 18-29 year olds support marriage equality, whereas 41 percent of those 65 and older do:

But that kind of generational difference is not enough to explain the enormous change we’ve seen in the last 17 years.  For example, that 41 percent for 65 and over sounds, and is, low compared to the 70 percent figure for the 18-29 demographic. But that 41 percent is also 27 points higher than the figure for 65 and over in 1996 (a mere 14 percent supported legal same-sex marriage then). Essentially none of this change is accounted for by the entrance of younger cohorts into the 65 and over group because 50-64 year olds in 1996 were just as conservative (15 percent support) as those 65 and over.

The same logic applies to the big shifts we see in every age group 30 and over in the 17 year period.  It’s not just younger cohorts replacing older cohorts within various age groups: everybody is becoming more liberal on this issue. That is why we’re seeing such rapid change — and why it’s likely to continue for many years to come.

Opponents of marriage equality are licking their wounds after Monday’s passage of marriage equality in the Minnesota Senate, assuring The Land of 10,000 Lakes would become the 12th state recognizing same-sex marriages. Despite polling showing a majority of Minnesotans support the bill, conservatives have suggested otherwise, with Tom Prichard of the Minnesota Family Council calling its passage “a hostile takeover.”

A statement from the Minnesota for Marriage coalition suggested it was a “sad day” for the state that will have “unintended consequences”:

Today is an historic and sad day for the state of Minnesota. As a result of years of campaigning by gay “marriage” activists awaiting a time when DFL leadership in the Minnesota legislature and governorship would be ready to champion their cause (contrary to the will of Minnesotans), the Minnesota Senate joined the Minnesota House of Representatives in passing the same-sex “marriage” bill. This bill not only upends our most foundational institution of marriage, redefining it as genderless and declaring mothers and fathers as “neutral” in Minnesota—it also fails to protect the most basic religious liberty rights of those who believe based on their faith that marriage can only be the union of one man and one woman. [...]

Now we are being told that redefining marriage poses no threat to religious liberty—that “everything will be ok”—and again, we argue that this is false.  Over one million Minnesotans will be forced to either affirm what they believe to be false or subject themselves to prosecution and insult as “bigots” and “criminals” under our law with the passage of this bill.

Minnesota will be discovering the unintended consequences and sentencing more and more people of faith to prosecution under our laws for years to come as a result of this decision made by a few today.

The statement covers many familiar talking points: Somehow marriage is weaker if it is “genderless.” People of faith should be free to discriminate against same-sex couples. The LGBT movement is “powerful.” None of them ring any truer in hindsight.

The National Organization for Marriage also chimed in, suggesting the lawmakers “cast a terrible vote that damages society, tells children they don’t deserve a mother and a father, and brands supporters of traditional marriage as bigots.” As always, the group promised retaliation against Republicans who supported the bill, even though past retribution campaigns have led to more Democrats being elected — making the effort counterproductive.

Minnesota marks six state victories for marriage equality in about as many months. Opponents seem desperate to prove that they are made victims by these changes in the law, but their only examples continue to be individuals intent on blatantly discriminating against same-sex couples. For all their “pro-family,” “what’s best for children,” and “protect the institution of marriage” arguments over the years, their opposition all boils down to a will to discriminate in the end. They may object to being called bigots, but every time they do, it becomes more clear to the public that that is exactly what they are.

After over four hours of debate, the Minnesota Senate voted 37-30 on Monday to pass marriage equality legislation, cementing Minnesota as the 12th state to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples. The vote was largely along party lines, with only three Democrats voting no and only one Republican, Sen. Branden Petersen, voted yes. The House passed the bill on Thursday with a 75-59 vote, and Gov. Mark Dayton (DFL) has promised to sign it as early as Tuesday. It will take effect August 1st.

Throughout the discussion, conservative opponents attempted to amend the bill to create religious exemptions from the state’s nondiscrimination protections. These efforts would have allowed private businesses like bakers, florists, and photographers — which are not inherently religious — to willfully deny service to same-sex couples. These attempts to legalize discrimination failed.

Just this past November, Minnesota voters defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage. Since then, support for marriage equality has only continued to grow, with a recent poll showing that a majority of Minnesotans now favor the change. Division remains among those who live in urban and rural areas, and many Democratic lawmakers from rural areas faced tough decisions because of the social conservative views of many of their constituents.

Anticipating today’s vote, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (DFL) renamed the Wabasha Bridge across the Mississippi River as the “Freedom to Marry Bridge” for this week, and it was adorned with rainbow flags flanking its breadth.

Minnesota is the third state to pass marriage equality in 2013, joining Delaware and Rhode Island. When Minnesota defeated its anti-gay amendment in November, three other states successfully passed marriage equality: Maryland, Maine, and Washington. That’s progress in six states in just over six months. Illinois’s legislature may still consider a same-sex marriage bill before the session is over.

Last week, Funny or Die released a video featuring George Takei, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Brad Goreski that makes fun of opponents of marriage equality. Called “Gays Beware,” the video parodies a 1950′s black-and-white PSA and suggests that the character Dale is “sick” because he opposes allowing same-sex couples to marry. The National Organization for Marriage did not take kindly to this satire, and is now trying to fundraise off it:

In other words, Dale is a sick, bigoted, ignorant, drunken, hypocritical, fill-in-the-blank.

But you see, the producers of this video want your friends, family and the rest of society to believe that you are Dale.

This video is unbridled hatred and bigotry towards people like you and me who believe in marriage. Some gay marriage activists clearly believe their own propaganda that gay marriage is inevitable, and now they are no longer attempting to hide their loathing and hatred of good people like you and me who simply believe marriage is the unique and special union of husband and wife.

NOM clearly misses the point of this video. It doesn’t just mock any 1950′s PSA — it specifically mocks Boys Beware, a 1961 propaganda film about predatory “homosexuals.” Boys Beware specifically described gay men as “sick” and “mentally ill,” painting them as child molesters and pedophiles intent on luring young boys into their grasp. One boy in the film is even killed, “having traded his life for a newspaper headline.”

The portrayal of Dale also serves as commentary for the tactics of groups like NOM. For example, just because they use flowery language like “pro-family” doesn’t mean they aren’t anti-gay. Also, Dale has been divorced twice (not unlike Newt Gingrich), a reminder that there are many aspects of marriage that groups like NOM completely ignore, focusing entirely on opposing the rights of same-sex couples. The suggestion that Dale is secretly gay is also a fair jab, as multiple studies have actually found that homophobia can result, at least partly, from a desire to suppress one’s own same-sex orientation.

NOM is so busy trying to portray itself and its supporters as victims that it cannot see the loaded — and valid — critiques of opponents of LGBT equality in the video. Watch it:

Recently, opponents of marriage equality have focused more on their objection that laws will no longer recognize the uniqueness of husbands and wives or mothers and fathers. Just this weekend the coalition opposed to Minnesota marriage equality used Mother’s Day to mourn that “Mother” will be removed from marriage laws, having previously warned not to “erase moms and dads.” Family Research Council senior fellow Cathy Ruse has attempted to make a similar argument, complaining about the Department of Education’s decision to recognize same-sex families when assessing need for financial aid:

I carried my children for 9 months in my womb, I endured the pain (and joy) of birth, I nursed them for many months after they were born, and every morning they jump into my bed screaming, “Mommy!”

But the federal government says I’m Mommy no more.

I am Parent 1.

Or maybe Parent 2.

Kind of like Thing One and Thing Two. But Dr. Seuss was being ironic.

Mr. President, I dare you to tell my daughters I’m not their mother.

Ruse’s quibble aptly reveals how little substance this argument has. No one is telling her she’s not her children’s mother. Likewise, lesbian moms are mothers too. The reason for the change is to recognize that not all families are alike, and thus should not face discrimination when simply filling out a form because it has gendered language.

The argument mirrors the rhetorical question asked by 11-year-old Grace Evans during a Minnesota House committee hearing: “Which parent do I not need, my mom or my dad?” This ruse ignores that children of same-sex couples could ask the very same question. For example, Eagle Scout and LGBT ally Zach Wahls could easily ask, “Which of my moms do I not need?” and thus highlight that marriage equality has nothing to do with taking a parent away.

Perhaps Ruse is Parent 1 some days and Parent 2 other days. She has the freedom to be whatever kind of parent she wants to be to her children, including a mother that hyper-conforms to gender norms. What guarantees that privilege is the protections she and her family have because she is legally recognized as one of her children’s parents — the same protections that same-sex couples are seeking for their families through marriage equality. If Ruse has been relying on the federal government to inform her of her gender and parenting role, perhaps she should simply take her kids’ word for it when they call her, “Mommy!”

With Minnesota looking poised to enact marriage equality early next week, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D) is getting restless. In remarks Thursday, he called for the Illinois House of Representatives to follow the state Senate’s lead and enact marriage equality.

Quinn, who endorsed same-sex marriage last May, has been personally lobbying undecided legislators and says supporters are close to the required 60 votes.

After months of delays, Quinn says it is now “time to vote.” He told reporters “it’s important that Illinois and the House of Representatives get moving… I believe a majority exists to get this bill passed through the House onto my desk so I can sign it into law.”

The bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Greg Harris (D) told the Chicago Tribune that while the House was first focused on a pension reform bill, he believed they were getting closer to the needed majority for his measure. “In the last couple months we have seen the voters of three different states vote for marriage equality at the ballot bot and in the last week we saw two other states, and probably a third today, where the legislature said that treating people equally is the right American thing to do,” he said. “Now the eyes of the country are on Illinois to see if we are going to do the right thing.”

Recent polling showed 50 percent of Illinois voters in support of marriage equality, compared with just 29 percent in opposition. In addition to Quinn, both of the state’s U.S. Senators — Democrat Dick Durbin and Republican Mark Kirk — have endorsed equal marriage.

A source told the Chicago Phoenix that the bill currently has 58 of the necessary 60 votes for passage. The legislative session ends on May 31.