Minnesota Democrats push to end their state version of DOMA

As the GOP in Minnesota try to ban gay marriage, the Democrats came back hard with a bill (the Marriage and Family Protection Act) that would repeal their state version of DOMA.

Here's some more info:

“Marriage is a legal institution recognized by the state to promote stable relationships and to protect people in those relationships and their children,” the bill states. “Minnesota’s current marriage law discriminates against same-sex couples, denying them and their families rights and responsibilities, including the right to pension and Social Security survivor’s benefits, the right to family and medical leave, and numerous other benefits and obligations. The state has an interest in encouraging stable relationships regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the partners and the entire community benefits when couples undertake the mutual obligations of marriage.”


The bill removes language from Minnesota statutes stemming from the 1997 Defense of Marriage Act. Instead, statutes that refer to “husband” and “wife” would also refer to “spouse.”


Doug Benson of Marriage Equality Minnesota, which helped draft a similar bill last year, said the bill isn’t likely to go anywhere.


“With little chance of passage this biennium, it is largely a symbolic gesture, but symbols are important,” he said. “We are pushing forward toward equality in the face of our oppressors’ onslaught,” he added, referring to a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage.

I think this is a solid gesture. I hope they try to stop this silly marriage ban.

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WATCH: Rep. Steve Simon calls out the Supporters of the Gay Marriage Ban in Minnesota

This is from the House Civil Law Committee meeting yesterday in Minnesota. They were debating an amendment to make marriage solely between a man and woman. Rep. Steve Simon had this this to say:

Great point made by Steve, however the House committee voted 10-7 to allow Minnesotans to vote on a constitutional amendment that could ban gay marriage in their state.

For more on this story go here

In Minnesota: The Senate Committee approves Gay Marriage Ban

The gay marriage ban is moving fast in Minnesota. Yesterday, the haters in the state Senate committee passed a bill that will allow folks to vote on banning gay marriage.

The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill 8-4, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed. Passage by the full Senate and the House appears likely with solid Republican majorities in both chambers, meaning voters in 2012 would be asked to enshrine in Minnesota's Constitution a prohibition on same-sex marriage that already exists in state law.

Supporters said the constitutional definition of marriage is important enough to give the final say to voters, rather than elected officials or judges. Critics said the bill reflects a narrow religious agenda that doesn't belong in the state Constitution and that a months-long, divisive debate will distract from more important issues facing the state.

It's the first time in five years that a Minnesota legislative committee held a hearing on gay marriage. Two hours of testimony from both sides grew heated at times, and an overflow crowd that didn't fit into the Capitol hearing room could nonetheless be heard loudly cheering at pivotal moments as they watched nearby on closed-circuit TV.

The chief Senate sponsor of the bill, Republican Sen. Warren Limmer of Maple Grove, said a recent Hennepin County lawsuit challenging Minnesota's statute banning gay marriage demonstrated the need for a stronger constitutional prohibition. A judge dismissed that challenge earlier this year, but Limmer said it showed the risk to the traditional definition of marriage.

"This issue is on track to go forward to our court system," Limmer said.

More to come as this issue continues.

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