Same-Sex Marriage, Other Laws Take Effect in Minnesota Aug. 1

Post by Mike Schoemer

Minnesota becomes the 12th state in the United States to recognize same-sex marriage at midnight Aug. 1.

“Congratulations to all the couples who will profess their love and commitment, starting at midnight, when Minnesota will join a dozen other states that recognize same-sex marriages. I am inspired by the dedication, compassion, and courage of my fellow Minnesotans who worked tirelessly to make marriage equality a reality in our state,” Congresswoman Betty McCollum said in a statement. “Our state’s support for same-sex marriage rights represents yet another historic step in the fight for all LGBT Americans to be recognized and treated equally under the law.”

It’s one of a group of new laws that will go into effect Thursday.

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-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls). 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. But 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 of the first services will take place at Minneapolis City Hall, where Mayor R.T. Rybak will serve as officiate, he said.

Also around the state, 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.