Archived Story
Ban defeated, gay marriage could come to Minnesota
Published 9:18am Thursday, November 8, 2012ST. PAUL — Minnesota’s proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage is history. The fight isn’t over for gay marriage supporters, though. The next logical step is the actual right to marry.
Though the ban was defeated by voters Tuesday, state law still prohibits gay marriage. New Democratic majorities in the state House and Senate make it more likely that the 1997 “Defense of Marriage” law could be repealed. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, who would have to approve such a change, is in favor of gay marriage.
But Dayton and Democratic legislative leaders played down that possibility Wednesday, at least in the immediate future. The likely new Senate leader, Sen. Tom Bakk of Cook, said policy changes would have to take a back seat to the state budget when the Legislature convenes in January.
“I’m not going to get into this particular or that particular,” Dayton said, asked if he would sign a bill to legalize gay marriage.
Despite those cautious words, Democratic Sen. John Marty of Roseville said he’d start pushing a legalization bill as soon as the session starts.
To all of you politicans that assured us that our Defense of Marriage law is “tough enough” and there is no need for us to amend our Constitution to define marriage as only between one man and one woman, this article is for you. Now that the Democrats have won control of the House, Senate, and we have a governor who can’t wait to sign a law legalizing same sex marriage, you can bet it won’t be long.
Take a good look at the map on The Secretary of State’s website. Out of 87 counties in the state of Minnesota, 75 of them voted Yes on the amendment by margins of anywhere from just over 50 percent to 75 percent. Right here in Freeborn County, we voted Yes with 60.08 percent. Twelve counties decided this issue for the rest of us and most of them were around the Twin Cities.
Finally, I take offense at those who took the low road and cried bigots, haters and homophobes at those of us who wanted nothing more than to protect the definiton of marriage between one man and one woman. Tell that to the good folks in all 87 counties who courageously stood up for the God given definiton of marriage.
Per the suggestion of the earlier commenter I took a look at the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website. Without counting the folks who decided not to vote on the questions I found that there were 110,691 more No votes than Yes votes on Constitutional Amendment #1. Additionally, I found that there were 177,034 more No votes than Yes votes on Constitutional Amendment #2. Clearly, both Amendments failed miserably.
The election was fair and square. Folks living in the metro and rural areas of Minnesota are all Minnesotans. The impetus for both initiatives appearing on the ballot did not start with the elderly, low income, GLBT community, non-white citizens, and the like. This all began with a certain political party trying to play God. The People of Minnesota have convincingly spoken during this recent election and have strongly rebuked bigotry, bias, and hate. Praise the Lord!