MN Legislature Sends Prop 8 Copycat To 2012 Ballot

After nearly 6 hours of debate the Minnesota House voted 70-62 to send a proposed constitutional amendment which would ban same-sex marriage to be decided by voters on the November 2012 presidential ballot. The measure had previously passed the Minnesota Senate 38-27.

The Washington Post reports:

State law already prohibits gay marriage, but supporters of the proposed amendment said it’s necessary to prevent judges or future lawmakers from making it legal in Minnesota. Critics said the plan is divisive and would put discrimination into the constitution.

The amendment would define marriage as only between a man and a woman.

The state Senate already passed the measure. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton has no power to block it from the ballot, but said before the vote Saturday that he would fight its passage. Dayton called the amendment “un-Minnesotan.”

Rep. Steve Gottwalt, the bill’s sponsor, said voters should have the final word on the issue.
“This is not about hatred. It is not about discrimination or intolerance,” said Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud.

But another Republican, Rep. John Kriesel, described how losing his legs in Iraq began a personal transformation of his views on the issue. He said he would have supported the amendment five years ago, but has since realized that the country for which he fought should not deny the right of two people who love each other to marry.

“I’m pleading with you to vote no,” said Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove. “I’m begging you.”

So far we know that Minnesota will be voting on the marriages of other people. There are amendments pending in North Carolina and Indiana. There are also discussions in Maine, California and Oregon about going to the ballot to repeal previously passed anti-gay marriage amendments.