Lawmaker Seeking Same-Sex Marriage Legalization This Year
Roseville's John Marty contends: "I don't think human rights should be put up to the vote of people."
Minnesota's marriage debate, which took center stage during this past fall's state elections, now appears headed for an airing at the state Capitol. State Sen. John Marty (DFL-66) told Patch he plans to introduce a bill within the next two weeks that would lift Minnesota's ban on same-sex marriage. "I don't think anyone's rights should be subject to public opinion," Marty said, referring to last year's vote on a constitutional amendment that tried to ban same-sex marriage. Several DFL legislators have been reluctant to foreground any fight for same-sex marriage despite the resounding defeat handed to amendment supporters in November's election. The state's messy fiscal situation and tax problems, they've said, comes first. "This …
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Dan Johnson
9:56 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Equal rights should never depend on popular opinion or vote: "The very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy, to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials and to establish them as legal principles to be applied by the courts. One's right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of … more ›