Republicans in the Minnesota House and Senate recently have introduced bills in both chambers that would seek voter approval amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
In an editorial on Thursday, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune makes it clear they stand on the side of equality:
In the less enlightened days of America’s past, it was illegal in some places for blacks to marry whites, for women to vote and for people of color to occupy the same public spaces as whites.
The laws were racist, sexist and discriminatory — and the nation came to understand the human toll. Unfortunately, we’re still struggling to get it right when it comes to same-sex marriage.
A proposal sailing through the Legislature would only make matters worse here in Minnesota. Committees of both the House and Senate have passed measures that call for a statewide vote on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
Passing a misguided gay marriage ban by referendum would cement inequity into the state Constitution. Requiring a majority vote to affirm minority rights is inherently discriminatory.
Many of our nation’s civil, human and women’s rights laws might never have passed if they were put to a vote. Instead, those advances usually came through legislative and court decisions that valued human rights more than special-interest politics. […]
Loving relationships between two men or two women have absolutely no impact on other matrimonial commitments. Nor do they pose any threat to the institution of marriage or family life, as the amendment backers claim.
The House Civil Law Committee on Monday advanced the the bill by a vote of 10-7 along party lines — all Republicans voted for the measure. Previously, on April 29, the Senate Judiciary Committee also approved the bill — the vote was 8-4, with all Republicans in favor and all Democrats opposed.
You can read the Star-Tribune’s full editorial here.
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