Minnesota amendment to ban same sex marriage advances

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The Minnesota House Committee on Rules and Administration approved a constitutional amendment to define marriage as solely between one man and one woman by a 13 to 12 vote Wednesday morning.

The Minnesota Independent reported that several protesters shouted “Shame!” and “You are damaging my life and my family!” while roll call was being taken.

The Minnesota Constitution requires that a proposed amendment be approved by both chambers of the state’s legislature and then ratified by a majority of voters in a general election.

The state’s Senate approved the proposed constitutional amendment by a 38 to 27 vote last week.

Same sex marriage is already banned by a statute passed by the state’s legislature in 1997 and upheld by the state Supreme Court. The state does not recognize same sex civil unions, but some cities do have domestic partnership registries.

Similar constitutional amendments were introduced to the Minnesota House and Senate in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2009.

The Minnesota House will need to vote on the proposed amendment before the last day of the legislative session, May 23.