The Minnesota House of Representatives passed a bill to legalize gay marriage today after three hours of deliberation. The bill was approved by a 75-59 margin. Its new measure will now move on to the democratic-controlled senate and will subsequently need passage by the governor, Democrat Mark Dayton. Both branches of the state government will likely give the bill little-to-no opposition. Two republicans voted in favor of the proposed legislation.
The legislation, House File 1054, provides for marriage between any two adults, but would not require religious institutions or individuals to perform or recognize same-sex marriages.
Much of the three hour debate centered around an amendment proposed by republican Tim Kelly, who suggested the creation of civil unions for same same-sex couples rather than full on marriage. The amendment faced sizable opposition being rejected by a 22-111 margin.
Governor Dayton has already pledged to sign the bill should it pass the senate and make its way to his desk. Last November, Minnesota rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage in the state, being the first state to outwardly reject a ban.
This is a huge victory for same-sex couples as legalized marriage would make Minnesota the 12th state to pass such a measure, the second of which is in the Midwest after Iowa.
Leading the charge was Rep. Karen Clark, an outed gay congresswoman who said, “My family knew firsthand that same sex couples pay our taxes, we vote, we serve in the military, we take care of our kids and our elders and we run businesses in Minnesota.” Apparently, as she spoke, chants could be heard from outside the House chamber, where hundreds of supporters who couldn’t get seats in the gallery were gathered.
Currently, gay marriage is legal in Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington as well as D.C. Its important to note that gay marriage is also is legal within the Coquille Indian tribe in Oregon, the Suquamish Indian tribe in Washington state, and the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians in Michigan.
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003.
