Cheers, Jeers Greet Senate Vote on Marriage Bill

The Minnesota Senate's approval of a bill that legalizes same-sex marriage was met with a divided public reaction around Roseville and the rest of the Twin Cities. 

Here's what two Roseville citizens, with differing views, had to say about Monday's Senate actiion:

Gary Grefenberg, a gay and chairman of the Roseville Human Rights Commission:

"Speaking for myself, I'm glad it's over. Nobody relishes having to justify your personal relationships in the public arena. Now people can start to listen to each other, and hopefully understand that we are a diverse county where there is not one official morality or one state religion. 

The intent is to allow all of us to have freedom, so we can all pursue our individual 'pursuits of happiness' freely and without penalty."

Isaac Schultz, a senior at Northwestern College in Roseville, member of the school's student senate and a Republican: 

"I am a supporter of traditional marriage. The MN House and Senate passing the bill to legalize same-sex marriage is very disappointing to me and many of those around me. Though I am thankful for the "civil marriage" amendment which was added to the bill by Rep. Fitzsimmons, this bill contains language which I believe is dangerous to the future of Minnesota.

I am a friend who shows kindness and respect to all people, but I feel this bill will create a slippery slope for shaping public policy down the road. Unfortunately, I do not believe this bill adequately protects religious institutions that don't want to perform same-sex marriages. Northwestern College could be one of those institutions that is not covered by the religious liberty protections in this bill, especially when it is operating as a business. The Republican Party wants the best for Minnesota, and I still believe that the nuclear family led by a mother and a father is the way to shape public policy. "

Meanwhile, click on to this Patch post to see a storify collection of local comments on Twitter to the Senate's vote on the Marriage Equality Act. 

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