Minnesota makes it a ‘baker’s dozen’ approving same-sex marriages

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

My home state of Minnesota just became the 12th state, plus the District of Columbia, to approve same-sex marriages . . . a "baker's dozen."

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports, In historic vote, Minnesota Senate approves same-sex marriage bill:

With deafening cheers and overwhelming emotion, the Minnesota Senate voted 37-30 to legalize same-sex marriage.

“Today, love wins,” said Sen. Tony Lourey, DFL-Kerrick.

The vote, on the heels of a vote last week in the House, brings to a
close a decade of debate over marriage that has echoed through the
Capitol, bringing thousands of friends and foes of gay marriage to its
marbled dome to express their deeply held feelings.

The measure next moves to Gov. Mark Dayton, who will welcome it with his signature in a celebratory ceremony at 5 p.m. Tuesday on the south steps of the Capitol.

Once it is signed, Minnesota will become the twelfth state to legalize same sex-marriage.
"It's historic and I can never be so proud of this body and of Minnesotans," said Sen. Jeff Hayden, DFL-Minneapolis.
On the Senate floor, Hayden said that his wife is white and noted that
just 50 years ago, his loving relationship would have been barred.

[B]ackers of the legalization measure said that Minnesota already
has a human rights law that bars discrimination based on sexual
orientation and that does not change if the marriage law changes.

“That’s true today, that will be true tomorrow,” said Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis and the sponsor of the marriage bill.

After long debate, the Senate voted down adding a measure to the
marriage bill that backers said would offer religious opponents greater
protections and opponents said would “gut” the state’s Human Rights act.
The Human Rights Act forbids discrimination against people based on
their sexual orientation. That measure failed on a 26-41 vote.

* * *

Opponents of legalization were vastly outnumbered by supporters in the Capitol on Monday, as they were in the Senate chambers.

In droves, they welcomed lawmakers to the Capitol with hearts pasted
on the august building’s stone steps, sang songs, banged drums and
created echoes in the marble halls as lawmakers on their side spoke.

“We have nothing to fear from love and commitment,” said Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, setting off an echo of praise.

In anticipation of the legalization of same-sex marriage in Minnesota, Mayor Chris Coleman on Monday morning proclaimed “Freedom to Marry Week” in St. Paul and temporarily renamed a downtown bridge the “Freedom to Marry Bridge.”

Gay pride flags fly in St. Paul in advance of marriage vote:

Rainbow flags representing gay pride
were hoisted along the Wabasha Street Bridge early Monday to reflect
Coleman’s proclamation.

“The state of Minnesota is about to
write history,” he said in a statement. “Becoming the first Midwest
state in the country to legislatively legalize the freedom to marry for
all committed couples is an event worth celebrating.”

City officials said the flags and the labor to put them on the bridge were donated.