Democratic Senator Vicki Jensen said, “I could never and I would never deny the kind of recognition and all the other positive things I get out of my marriage with my husband, to anyone else.”
The Minnesota state Senate passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriage with a 37-30 vote on Monday. The bill will now move on to Governor Mark Dayton who has already scheduled a ceremony for the signing at 5 pm Tuesday, on the steps of the St. Paul Capitol.
Once the bill is signed Minnesota will be the 12th state in the US to have passed marriage equality legislation, and the first Midwestern state “where elected representatives voted directly to allow gay marriage. Iowa has had gay marriage since 2009, but that was due to a court ruling.” Minnesota is also the third state in the US to legalize same-sex marriage in the last 10 days, following closely behind Rhode Island and Delaware.
Many supporters and opponents of the bill spoke passionately during the more than 4-hour debate on Monday afternoon. Democratic Senator Ron Latz said, “Members, God made gays. And God made gays capable of loving other people. So who are we to quarrel with God’s intentions?” Republican opponents however, argued that the bill “alters a centuries-old understanding of marriage as a societal building block that benefits children.” Republican Senator Dan Hall, who is also a pastor said, “Forcing others to give you your rights will never end well. It won’t give you the recognition you desire.” He said that many who support marriage equality have told him he is “on the wrong side of history,” to which he replied, “the truth is I’m more concerned about being on the right side of eternity.”
Illinois is expected by many to be the next state to pass marriage equality legislation, but the House has yet to schedule a vote.
Photo: AP File/Jim Mone