In a symbolic gesture, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton on Wednesday, vetoed a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage.
The ballot initiative, passed by the Legislature, will ask voters whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Dayton (D) acknowledged that his veto won’t stop the question from appearing on the ballot, but called the amendment “divisive and destructive” and urged Minnesotans to vote against it.
“Without question, I am vetoing it; and I urge Minnesotans to reject this divisive, mean-spirited, un-Minnesotan and un-American amendment,” he wrote.
“Minnesota is better than this. Minnesotans are better than this. I urge Minnesotans to reject this amendment.”
The bill was approved in the House on May 21, the final step required to put the propped constitutional amendment on the November 2012 ballot. The state Senate approved the bill on May 11.
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In Minnesota, a simple majority in both chambers is all that’s required to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot. Such a bill is not subject to a veto or any other action by the governor.
