Minnesota is set to become the 12th state to adopt marriage equality legislation.
The Minnesota House approved a measure to legalize same-sex marriage by a vote of 75-59 on Thursday. This historic vote has “positioned” the state to be “the first in the Midwest to pass such a law out of its Legislature.”
The state Senate is set to consider the bill on Monday, and it is expected to pass there as well. Governor Mark Dayton has also pledged to sign the bill once it is passed through the Senate. The bill’s sponsor, Representative Karen Clark explained in an impassioned speech that her “only goal was equal treatment under state law for same-sex couples.” She told the House about the priceless support she received from her family after she came out several decades ago saying, “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.”
Representative Jenifer Loon, one of 4 Republicans who voted for the passage of the measure said, “There comes a time when you just have to set politics aside and decide in your gut what is the right thing to do.”
Representative Steve Simon said, “It’s not time to uncork the champagne yet. But it’s chilling.”
Photo: AP/Andy Clayton King
