Amendment 1 in Minnesota, which would have limited the freedom to marry for gay and lesbian couples, was defeated and the “no” vote prevailed with 52 percent of the vote statewide — and by a 2-1 margin in Duluth.
According to the Duluth News Tribune the vote wasn’t definitive until about 1:45 a.m. Wednesday.
Following the defeat, Minnesotans United for All Families Campaign Manager Richard Carlbom released the following statement:
“Today, the people of Minnesota spoke loudly and clearly and became the first state in the country to defeat this kind of hurtful, freedom-limiting amendment. They said no to limiting the freedom of committed and loving couples in Minnesota, they said no to singling out and excluding one group of people from a basic freedom just because of who they are, and they said no to telling some people it’s illegal to marry the person they love.
“The strength of this campaign was our thousands of volunteers, and our broad and diverse coalition of partners. This campaign did something that has never been done before: it brought together people of all faiths, in all communities, and of all political affiliations on the principle that freedom means freedom for everybody. The strength of those who have come together and worked to defeat this amendment was rewarded today, and without their work, this would not have been possible.
“This campaign has changed the course of politics in our state forever. Over the course of the last year and a half, we’ve sparked an honest, statewide conversation about why marriage matters and who should have the freedom to participate in it. Today, Minnesotans voted in favor of love, freedom, and fairness – because that’s what this state is about.”
Though the constitutional amendment was defeated, state law still prohibits gay marriage. Next steps would be for the 1997 “Defense of Marriage” law to be repealed.
However according to the Duluth News Tribune Gov. Mark Dayton played down that possibility. “I’m not going to get into this particular or that particular,” Dayton said, asked if he would sign a bill to legalize gay marriage.
Despite those cautionary words Sen. John Marty of Roseville said he’d start pushing a legalization bill as soon as the session starts.
“I just frankly don’t want to keep telling people who love each other and who have committed their lives to each other that they can’t get married,” Marty said. “To say we can wait a little longer — we’ve waited too long already.”
