ST. PAUL, May 9, 2013 (LifeSiteNews) – The Minnesota House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday afternoon that will redefine marriage in the state to include homosexual couples. The 75-59 vote was the first and only major hurdle expected for the bill, which is predicted to sail through the Senate and land on Governor Mark Dayton’s desk for his promised signature.
If the bill is passed, Minnesota will be the 12th U.S. state to legalize same-sex “marriage,” and the third this month. Delaware and Rhode Island passed gay “marriage” earlier in May.
Hundreds of orange-clad homosexual activists flooded the halls of the Capitol Thursday holding signs that read, “I Support The Freedom to Marry.” Alongside them, supporters of traditional marriage wore bright green shirts and carried signs that read “Vote No.”
The bill’s opponents in the legislature argued that the bill would redefine the basic building block of society and expose people who oppose homosexuality on religious grounds to accusations of bigotry and even prosecution.
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“We are redefining an institution that has been the bedrock of our society for generations,” said Rep. Kelby Woodard, R-Belle Plaine.
Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, told The Associated Press that his opposition to the bill stemmed from his concerns about the inadequacy of religious protections. He said he preferred an alternate civil union proposal that would extend gay couples more legal rights, but wouldn’t redefine marriage.
“We would be much better off unifying the state behind civil unions,” Garofalo said.
Those who voted for the same-sex “marriage” bill acknowledge that it may come back to bite them on election day, as the statewide population is roughly evenly split on the issue of gay marriage.
“My brother is gay,” said Rep. Shannon Savick, D-Albert Lea told The Huffington Post, explaining why she planned to vote for the bill. “I watched my brother being discriminated against when we were younger. I just don't see why he shouldn't be able to marry the person he loves. I did.”
“It could cost me the election. I represent a very conservative area,” added Savick. “I hope I do enough good in other areas that they'll overlook that.”
Forty-seven percent of Minnesota voters voted in favor of a constitutional ban on same-sex “marriage” in 2012. A spring 2013 Star Tribune poll showed a majority of Minnesotans still don't support making same-sex “marriage” legal.