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(Minneapolis) - Responding to pressure from opponents of equal civil
marriage rights for same-sex couples, the Senate Judiciary Committee
voted today to approve a
new proposal to amend the Minnesota
Constitution, an extreme disappointment to OutFront Minnesota, the
state's leading organization serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgender community and its allies.
"Although less offensive than the initial proposal, in that it preserves
the Legislature's power to authorize marriages or other legal frameworks
for same-sex couples, the Betzold amendment approved today nonetheless
would have the effect of hanging a 'gays not welcome' sign on the door
of every courthouse in Minnesota," said Ann M. DeGroot, Executive
Director of OutFront Minnesota.
The revised amendment language, proposed by Sen. Don Betzold (D –
Fridley), does not ban either same-sex marriage or civil unions, as
originally sought by Sen. Michelle Bachmann (R – Stillwater). However,
the Betzold language would strip Minnesota's courts of their hitherto
unchallenged power to interpret the State Constitution when it comes to
issues related to legal recognition of same-sex relationships.
"Regardless of the difference in language, the reality is that today's
vote by the Judiciary Committee keeps alive divisive, election-year
efforts to marginalize our families and our community," said OutFront
Minnesota Public Policy Director Monica Meyer. "Today's committee vote
moves Minnesota one step closer to the creation of permanent
second-class citizenship for our state's GLBT community."
Contact:
Monica Meyer, Public Policy Director
(612) 822-0127, ext. 115
Ann M. DeGroot, Executive Director
(612) 822-0127, ext. 107
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