Marriage equality now law in Minnesota

Minnesota became the 12th state to legalize same-sex civil marriages on Monday. On the steps of the State Capitol, in front of a crowd estimated at 6,000 jubilant supporters, Gov. Mark Dayton signed the new law that takes effect Aug. 1.

Bill sponsors Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls), called the day one of “rejoicing.”

(Read Gov. Dayton's full remarks here)

For Clark, the road to today’s historic event began with her push 20 years ago to change the state’s Human Rights Act to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination. “We work in strange ways, in our culture, in our Legislature, in Minnesota. This is so much about our families,” she said after the bill signing.

The bill’s introduction came six months after voters turned down a ballot measure to place in the state constitution a definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.

“None of this would have happened without the tremendous grassroots campaign in response to that horrible constitutional amendment,” Clark said.

Her colleagues took a “risky” vote in supporting the bill, she said; and the crowd responded with, “We’ve got your back. We’ve got you back.” 

“I thank all my colleagues who did the right thing,” she added.

Dibble said it is a day of “rejoicing in Minnesota. Dreams held for so long by everyone gathered here… those dreams are going to come true.”

The House passed the so-called marriage equality act, as amended, May 9 by a 75-59 vote. After moving to the Senate, it passed May 13 by a 37-30 vote.

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Read more about the bill’s road to passage:

(ABOVE: Gov. Mark Dayton signs the marriage equality bill into law on the steps of the State Capitol May 14. Pictured with him: Rep. Karen Clark, in green, the chief sponsor of the bill in the House, her partner Jacqueline Zita, Sen. D. Scott Dibble, chief sponsor of the bill in the Senate behind the governor, and with him his partner, Richard Leyva. Photo by Paul Battaglia)