Marriage equality passes in Minnesota as bill heads to governor



mn_its_timeB_250x250A marriage equality bill is heading to the desk of Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton following today’s Senate passage. The governor has vowed to sign the bill, which passed in the House last week. Minnesota will join 11 other states plus the District of Columbia in legalizing marriage for same-sex couples. The law would take effect Aug. 1. This victory comes on the heels of new marriage equality laws in Rhode Island and Delaware.

The Task Force, which has offices in Minneapolis, contributed significant resources to secure marriage equality in Minnesota. And as a member of Minnesotans United, the Task Force helped defeat the anti-marriage equality amendment last fall.

Statement by Rea Carey, executive director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force:

The national momentum for the freedom to marry keeps rolling on with this joyous victory today in Minnesota. Marriage equality and Minnesota certainly make a great couple, and we are thrilled for all the Minnesotans who will soon be able to share in the celebration and responsibilities of marriage.

This has been a long journey of changing hearts and minds, of breaking down walls, of shining a spotlight on our common humanity. The many years of door-knocking, phone calls and poignant conversations about why marriage matters have made a difference. The transformative nature of people talking about their love and their lives is clear, as we see in reaching this milestone in Minnesota, and in the fact that a clear and growing majority of Americans supports the freedom to marry.

We congratulate Minnesotans United and everyone who worked so hard to secure marriage equality for all Minnesotans. We are proud to stand with them as a partner in this victory.

More about the Task Force’s work in Minnesota

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Foundation and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund have invested significantly to secure marriage equality in Minnesota. This investment includes:

  • Serving as members of the board of Minnesotans United since its inception.
  • Dedicating full-time organizers to the successful campaign against the anti-marriage equality amendment.
  • Serving as an early co-architect of the pro-LGBT faith plan and leading a team in South Minnesota to turn the tide for the ballot measure defeat.
  • Experienced staff supported the legislative strategy in planning and implementation and continued to do work up to the final minutes before both the House and Senate votes on the marriage equality bill.
  • Organizing “Conversations with People You Know” trainings, in which people of faith have been trained and had conversations with other people of faith about the need for equality.
  • Collaborating with Catholics for Marriage Equality on a pro-equality music video.
  • Recruiting participants for the Volunteer Vacation marriage equality program.