Minnesota Marriage Bill Is Coming

The Minnesota legislature will likely see a marriage equality bill in the next several weeks. Activists expect a tough battle.

"The energy and excitement around getting this done is overwhelming," said Carlbom, campaign manager for Minnesotans United for All Families. "That is what gives us the biggest boost of confidence." Carlbom's team is busy drafting language for a bill, which will get a ceremonial rollout at the Capitol in coming weeks. The goal, Carlbom said, is not merely to repeal a state law defining marriage as the union of only a man and woman, but to "secure the freedom to marry for loving and committed same-sex couples."

Carlbom would not say how much the group expects to raise or how big its lobbying force will be. But, he said, they expect to display the same kind of "disciplined, strategic" effort that marked their political campaign. Carlbom said he has not counted heads, but a number of DFLers say it is doubtful the measure would pass today. The campaign effort will work at methodically bringing along crucial legislators on board, one by one. "This is not some fly-by-night operation," Carlbom said. "We are going to be very focused on accomplishing the task in front of us." Without strong majorities in either house, DFLers won't have many votes to spare.

The NOM-affiliated Minnesota For Marriage maintains: "The defeat of the marriage amendment was not a mandate to legalize gay marriage."  I suppose we can expect the return of Kalley Yanta.