ST. PAUL, Minn. — An Orono, Minn., businessman angling to be the next governor of Minnesota, says he supports civil unions for gay couples but wouldn’t back same-sex marriage if faced with a bill legalizing it.
Republican Scott Honour said Thursday he believes marriage should remain between one man and one woman.
But Honour said he would accept civil unions that provide some legal recognition to gay and lesbian couples.
Honour took media questions a day entering the race through a video rollout that focused largely on his belief that government spending should be restrained. He is one of several Republicans interested in taking on Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.
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Honour says he will seek the GOP endorsement at the party’s 2014 convention but wouldn’t commit to honoring that outcome, which could push him into a summer primary.
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Dayton has said he supports legalizing same-sex marriage, and pledged to sign it into law if passed by the state legislature — the legislation has already cleared committees in both the state House and Senate.
Supporters are hoping to pass the bill in both chambers this session, and if successful, same-sex marriage would become legal in Minnesota by August. The bill need 68 votes in the House and 34 votes in the Senate.
