Retiring state Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, continues his campaign against the anti-gay marriage amendment on this November's ballot.

The anti-amendment group Minnesotans United for All Families circulated an email Monday morning from Kriesel, encouraging people to donate to the cause. His break with his party over the marriage amendment landed him on the cover of Lavender Magazine as their 2011 Person of the Year.

The email reads:

I joined the military at 17 because I love this country, I love this state and I love what they stand for.

In Iraq, I nearly died because of an IED explosion. Laying there in the desert, convinced my life was ending, I thought only of my wife and kids. My love for them kept me fighting; it pulled me through.

We're facing a constitutional amendment this fall that threatens families. It aims to tell Minnesotans which committed couples are worthy of marriage in our state -- and worse, which ones aren't.

One year ago, I pleaded with my colleagues in our state House of Representatives not to put this amendment on the ballot. I lost that battle -- but in the fall, we can still win.

To do it, we need thousands of grassroots donors to step up. Defeating this amendment won't be cheap, and if we don't meet our goals, we risk permanently tarnishing our great state.

Click here to do the right thing and contribute today so we can meet our crucial goal. We cannot let opponents of freedom decide the fate for thousands of loving Minnesota families.

I told my fellow legislators last year that this amendment didn't represent the America I went overseas to defend. America has always been about expanding our rights and freedoms. Unfortunately, my protest fell on deaf ears.

The sad truth is that this amendment would take away basic freedoms from thousands of Minnesotans, and that's unconscionable. That goes against all our values.

I'll tell you what: I'm determined to defeat this amendment.

I need you to join me. We cannot afford to miss a single fundraising goal. We have to defeat this harmful amendment.

Click here to contribute right away to help us reach our critical fundraising goal. If we don't act now, we'll be in danger of losing one of our most fundamental freedoms.

Thank you for everything you do.

Sincerely,
John

John Kriesel
State Representative