Minnesota Independent

Minnesota fair-goers reject constitutional ban on same-sex marriage

By Andy Birkey | 09.06.11 | 11:25 am

The Minnesota House of Representatives conducted its annual poll of legislative issues at the Minnesota State Fair this year, and among the questions was how fair-goers would vote on an amendment to the state constitution limiting marriage to one man and one woman and barring same-sex marriage for future generations. Poll respondents rejected the amendment with 29.8 percent voting “yes” and 66.5 percent voting “no.”

A new cultural phenomenon, the ‘glitterbomb’ hits anti-gay activists at state fair

By Andy Birkey | 09.06.11 | 8:55 am

The “glitterbombs” that have targeted Michele and Marcus Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Tim Pawlenty were taken to the Minnesota State Fair on Saturday when Minnesota For Marriage, a group that opposes rights for same-sex couples, was showered with glitter from the fair’s Skyride. The glitterbomb phenomenon, homegrown in Minnesota, has also secured a place in pop culture. Fox’s hit show Glee is explicitly using the glitterbomb in its fall season promotional ads and the New York Times examined the phenomenon last week.

New Yorkers celebrated the law legalizing gay marriage. Photo: Zach Roberts, Flickr

State Fair becomes first battleground on anti-gay marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 09.02.11 | 12:14 pm

A poll by the Minnesota House of Representatives at the Minnesota State Fair has become a rally point for both supporters and opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state nearly 17 months before the vote in Nov. 2012.

Minnesota State Fair to feature condoms on a stick

By Andy Birkey | 08.26.11 | 12:06 pm

As with every year, the 2011 Minnesota State Fair will feature plenty of things on sticks — mainly food items — but one object may stand out: Condoms. And they’re being marketed to grandmothers.

Bachmann drops State Fair logo

By Andy Birkey | 08.31.10 | 9:10 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann took some heat on Tuesday for using the logo for the Minnesota State Fair in a television ad targeting DFL opponent Tarryl Clark. The campaign said late Tuesday afternoon that it was…

Bachmann ad used Minnesota State Fair logo without permission

By Andy Birkey | 08.31.10 | 11:35 am

Updated: A new television ad by Rep. Michele Bachmann used the Minnesota State Fair logo without permission, MinnPost reports. State Fair Officials said Bachmann’s campaign “did not get…

Three little piggies do have H1N1

By Chris Steller | 10.19.09 | 12:17 pm

Minnesota officials succeeded in fighting off the term “swine flu” earlier this year, but three piglets that were displayed at the Minnesota State Fair last month have been confirmed today as the nation’s first porcine victims…

Elderly, sewers would lose under fairgoers’ funding formula

By Chris Steller | 09.11.09 | 11:43 am

Asked to rank city services by priority for funding, visitors to the Minnesota League of Cities booth at the State Fair put sewers and senior-citizen services last.

State fair poll: Medical marijuana draws support, but not dual-rod fishing

By Paul Demko | 09.08.09 | 10:14 am

The vast majority of Minnesotans — or at least those who participate in polls while attending the Minnesota State Fair — believe medical marijuana should be legalized. Nearly 70 percent of those surveyed at the Great Minnesota Get-Together indicated support…

MnIndy slideshow: State fair politics

By Paul Demko | 09.04.09 | 4:35 pm

The only place for a politician to be on the last Friday of summer is the Minnesota State Fair. There are almost certainly more backs to slap and babies to kiss than at any other gathering of the year. It seemed like half the state’s residents were prowling the fairgrounds today. U.S. Sen. Al Franken was among the masses.