MN Marriage Bill Introduced

Openly gay Minnesota state Sen. Scott Dibble today introduced his marriage equality bill. The full text of the bill is here.

“This is a day that Minnesotans should be very proud of," said Sen. Scott Dibble, a Minneapolis Democrat who is a chief sponsor of the bill. "Our challenge in coming weeks is that we really have this discussion with renewed energy, about why marriage matters, why family matters." The new legislative push is the culmination of a 10 year fight over the issue, beginning with proposals to further restrict marriage solely to heterosexual unions. Sensing a national, tidal shift on the issue, advocates now believe this is the year Minnesota will join fewer than a dozen states that have legalized same-sex marriage. The new proposal would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry, but ensures that religious leaders who are opposed are not forced to wed same-sex couples. Only faiths and religious groups that welcome same-sex unions could perform the ceremonies.

In a news video at the first link above, GOP state Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen blathers that homosexuality is a choice and that "the concept that you are born that way is a lie." Ho-hum.  If Dibble's bill is successful in both chambers (and that is far from certain at this point) same-sex weddings would commence in August. (Tipped by JMG reader Larson)