Here’s what you may have missed this week in LGBT:

Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis touted the $650,000 it gave to support the anti-gay marriage amendment, promising that none of it came from funds earmarked by parishioners.

The Uptake notes that the Catholic Church is the single largest donor to the anti-gay marriage group Minnesota for Marriage.

The Southwest Minneapolis Patch says that no one from that community gave to Minnesota for Marriage, but residents of that part of the city did give $31,000 to Minnesotans United, the group that opposes the amendment.

Workday Minnesota notes that the Minnesota campaign to defeat the amendment is somewhat unique because the the early and active support of the state’s labor unions.

“One of the key differences of how the battle is unfolding in Minnesota has been that the coalition against this amendment has united early and includes union members on our board of directors, which helps a great deal in getting our message out across the state,” MN United’s Richard Carlborn told the paper.

The Progressive Catholic Voice is launching a petition urging the Archbishop John Nienstedt to forgo massive funding for the anti-gay amendment and instead use the money to help the needy.

Jeff Rosenberg at MN Publius echoed that sentiment.

“As you may or may not have noticed in the New Testament, Jesus seems to have had a bit of a fixation with justice for the poor. He had little to say about homosexuality. Can you possibly believe that He would want you to divert $350,000 from Good Works to attack Minnesota families?”

Public News Service speculates that young people could tip the balance in the marriage amendment battle. The group may be more motivated than any other age group and young people overwhelmingly oppose the amendment.

Domestic Partners

Eden Prairie News profiles CeAnne Becker and Laura Kaczmarek, the first couple in that city to sign up for the new domestic partner ordinance.

Education

Rolling Stone writer Sabrina Rubin Erdely has an in-depth piece on the Anoka-Hennepin School District and the toll the religious right has had on the district’s students.

A reader at the Minnesota Daily says anti-bullying laws must specifically include LGBT students.

The Minnesota Daily profiles the University of Minnesota’s new LGBT Programs Office director.

Presidential politics

Mitt Romney was glitterbombed twice during his Minnesota appearance.

Rick Santorum, a longtime foe of rights for LGBT people, will be in Eden Prairie on Sunday campaigning with Ralph Reed’s Faith and Freedom Coalition.

Here’s the press release:

The Minnesota Faith & Freedom Coalition proudly announces that local Grace Church of Eden Prairie, Minnesota will feature guest speaker, former Senator and current Presidential hopeful Rick Santorum this Sunday, February 4th, 2012. Santorum is set to speak at 9:30 a.m., and will address parishioners.

In addition to welcoming Rick Santorum to Minnesota, the Minnesota Faith & Freedom Coalition will be registering voters on site as well as reminding people to attend their caucuses. The Minnesota Faith & Freedom Coalition applauds Grace Church’s for welcoming the former senator. Jordan Sekulow of the American Center for Law & Justice reminded Pastors recently when he addressed the MN Faith & Freedom Project Pastors’ Briefing & Strategy Event, that “I’m trying to tell everybody here today is how far you can go because I think a lot of pastors are just too nervous, too scared to get involved.” Sekulow made it clear that there are many ways in which a church may get involved in the political process without the fear of losing their 501 (c) 3 status, so long as they are careful not to formally endorse.

In addition to welcoming Rick Santorum to Minnesota, the Minnesota Faith & Freedom Coalition will be registering voters as well as reminding people to attend their caucus sites this upcoming Tuesday, February 7th.