Gay Marriages Start Today in MN; Advocates Rejoice

Since the governor signed the same-sex marriage bill May 14, there has been no date discussed as much in Minnesota as Aug. 1.

Thursday, of course, is the date same-sex marriage becomes legal in Minnesota. At midnight, Minnesota will officially become the 12th state in the United States to open the institution of marriage to gay couples.

The state’s marriage laws will change from being male/female specific to authorize marriage and divorce of two persons, regardless of gender. It will provide exemptions for churches and other religious associations from providing goods or services related to same-sex marriage ceremonies, if doing so would be in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.

The law was sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis). As a bill, its introduction into the legislative process 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.

The debate in the Legislature was contentious, with frequent rallies at the State Capitol from those on both sides of the issue. Minnetonka’s legislators were right there in the midst of the debate.

Sen. Terri Bonoff described learning that her brother was gay more than 30 years ago. Although her family accepted him with love, they worried about how the rest of the world would respond, she said. She also talked about a close friend from college who died from AIDS and neighbors down the street.

“I am so honored to speak on the Senate floor on this issue because I know that I’m not standing up here as me, as Terri Bonoff, state senator. I’m standing here to bring a voice for all of those who are not standing on the Senate floor but feel so strongly,” Bonoff said. “I’m standing here for my family, for my friends, for constituents—but really people all over the state, all over the country and even around the world.

Meanwhile, Sen. David Hann took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots.

“We’re all opposed to the idea of unfairly discriminating and being prejudicial against our fellow citizens,” Hann said. “It’s not about that. And I think, frankly, for those of us who differ on this issue to be accused of those things is deeply, deeply offensive because it is untrue.”

An amendment on the House Floor to insert “civil” before the word “marriage,” in all state statute references, tempered the debate, bringing in enough bipartisan support for the measure to pass both bodies. The language change, it was thought, would clarify the distinction between state-sanctioned civil marriages and marriages within religious faith traditions.

More than 5,000 same-sex couples have filed for licenses across the state, media outlets report. Some expect that to be a boon for the wedding industry—although not all businesses are seeing changes immediately.

While the same-sex marriage bill has occupied the lion’s share of attention, it’s not the only new law that takes effect at midnight.

New liquor laws will address the state’s growing microbrew industry, and paramedics will need more training. Information about these and other select new laws that take effect Aug. 1, 2013, can be accessed via the Minnesota House website. A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2013 Legislature is now available online from the House Public Information Services Office.