Photo via charismamag.com

Minnesota lawmakers approve marriage amendment for 2012 ballot

Minnesota House lawmakers gave their approval on Saturday to placing a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as the union of a man and a woman on the 2012 ballot, reports LifeSiteNews.com.

The Minnesota Post reported the House voted 70-62 to approve the amendment after five hours of debate at 12:30 a.m. on Saturday. Just two Democrats joined the Republican majority in supporting the measure, while four Republicans joined Democrats in opposing it.

The measure approved by the legislature would put the following question on the 2012 ballot: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota?”

In order to pass, a majority of voters will have to vote “yes.”

For both pro-family advocates and gay activists, the battle in Minnesota is a high stakes game: a win for the amendment would bolster the argument of defenders of traditional marriage that voters will defend true marriage given the opportunity at the ballot box; a defeat for the amendment would fit into the narrative of gay activists, who say recent Gallup polls and cultural trends show their side is gaining political momentum and acceptance.

“We are confident that voters in Minnesota will vote to adopt the marriage amendment preserving traditional marriage against judicial and legislative activism, just as voters in 30 other states have done. We look forward to being part of the campaign,” said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

To read the full story, click here.

New iPad POLL! VOTE NOW! Will you buy new iPad?

TAGS: USA Minnesota constitutional amendment definition of marriage 2012 ballot

[05/25/2011]

Print Version