STILLWATER, Minn. (AP) – Business owners in Stillwater are agitated after learning that some gays and lesbians are boycotting the town because of state Sen. Michele Bachmann’s stand on same-sex marriage.

Bachmann, R-Stillwater, is the Senate author of a measure that would let voters decide whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

“We love Stillwater. We have family members who live there, and we’ll be visiting them this week. We just won’t be spending any money there,” said Laura Migliorino of Minneapolis.

“It’s such a nice place, and I can’t believe that they would go for something like that (amendment). I can’t believe that they’re that hateful. It’s not my area; I cannot vote Bachmann out. The only thing I can do is boycott (their businesses).”

Migliorino and her partner contacted the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce with their concerns.

“If her views are not a reflection of the Stillwater community, then her constituency needs to voice their opposition, and ask that she withdraw her amendment proposal,” they wrote.

About 30 people have contacted Chamber officials so far to inform them they were boycotting businesses because of Bachmann, said Diane Rollie, executive director of the chamber.

“This is just such an unfortunate situation,” Rollie said. “I feel that the anger or the angst that these folks are feeling is misplaced.”

Rollie noted that many business owners don’t live in the district, and Bachmann represents only part of Stillwater.

OutFront Minnesota – a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender advocacy group – does not support a blanket boycott of businesses in Stillwater, said Ann DeGroot, executive director.

“We know businesses in Stillwater who are supportive of the GLBT community, so a general boycott of all businesses is not helpful,” she said.

Instead, OutFront is working to keep a constitutional amendment off the ballot. If it goes on the ballot, “we’ll be persuading people to vote against it,” she said. “The issue is not Michele Bachmann.”

OutFront suggests that members write to Stillwater businesses and ask them to write Bachmann with their concerns.

Joci Tilsen, owner of the Valley Bookseller in downtown Stillwater, wrote to Bachmann last week after hearing from gay and lesbian customers.

“I asked her to please stop trying to amend the constitution to have marriage just between a man and a woman,” Tilsen said. “I told her that my business could not tolerate this boycott. I said, ‘I know who this amendment will hurt, and I don’t know who this amendment will help.’ I haven’t heard back from her.”

Tilsen, who lives in Hudson, Wis., said the gay and lesbian community is a significant part of the commerce in downtown Stillwater.

In response to the boycott, Bachmann said she is inviting everyone who supports a constitutional amendment to come to Stillwater to shop and dine and stay in area inns.