Community Corner
Gay Marriage, Other Laws Take Effect in Minnesota Aug. 1
The state will recognize marriages between same-sex couples, according to law, beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.
Written by Associate Regional Editor Mike Schoemer
Minnesota becomes the 12th state in the United States to recognize same-sex marriage at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1.
It’s one of a group of new laws that will go into effect Thursday.
The state’s marriage laws will change from being male/female specific to authorize marriage and divorce of two persons, regardless of gender. It will provide exemptions for churches and other religious associations from providing goods or services related to same-sex marriage ceremonies, if doing so would be in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.
The law was sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls). As a bill, its introduction into the legislative process came six months after voters turned down a ballot measure to place in the state constitution a definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
The debate in the Legislature was contentious, with frequent rallies at the State Capitol from those on both sides of the issue. But an amendment on the House Floor to insert “civil” before the word “marriage,” in all state statute references, tempered the debate, bringing in enough bipartisan support for the measure to pass both bodies. The language change, it was thought, would clarify the distinction between state-sanctioned civil marriages and marriages within religious faith traditions.
More than 5,000 same-sex couples have filed for licenses across the state, media outlets report.
Some of the first services will take place at Minneapolis City Hall, where Mayor R.T. Rybak will serve as officiate, he said.
Also around the state, new liquor laws will address the state’s growing microbrew industry; and paramedics will need more training. Information about these and other select new laws that take effect Aug. 1, 2013, can be accessed via the Minnesota House website. A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2013 Legislature is now available online from the House Public Information Services Office.
More stories and blogs of same-sex marriage on Mendota Heights Patch:
Minnesota becomes the 12th state in the United States to recognize same-sex marriage at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 1.
It’s one of a group of new laws that will go into effect Thursday.
The state’s marriage laws will change from being male/female specific to authorize marriage and divorce of two persons, regardless of gender. It will provide exemptions for churches and other religious associations from providing goods or services related to same-sex marriage ceremonies, if doing so would be in violation of the entity’s religious beliefs.
The law was sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Mpls) and Sen. D. Scott Dibble (DFL-Mpls). As a bill, its introduction into the legislative process came six months after voters turned down a ballot measure to place in the state constitution a definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
The debate in the Legislature was contentious, with frequent rallies at the State Capitol from those on both sides of the issue. But an amendment on the House Floor to insert “civil” before the word “marriage,” in all state statute references, tempered the debate, bringing in enough bipartisan support for the measure to pass both bodies. The language change, it was thought, would clarify the distinction between state-sanctioned civil marriages and marriages within religious faith traditions.
More than 5,000 same-sex couples have filed for licenses across the state, media outlets report.
Some of the first services will take place at Minneapolis City Hall, where Mayor R.T. Rybak will serve as officiate, he said.
Also around the state, new liquor laws will address the state’s growing microbrew industry; and paramedics will need more training. Information about these and other select new laws that take effect Aug. 1, 2013, can be accessed via the Minnesota House website. A complete summary of all laws passed by the 2013 Legislature is now available online from the House Public Information Services Office.
More stories and blogs of same-sex marriage on Mendota Heights Patch:
- Mendota Heights-Area Legislators Oppose Gay Marriage Ban Amendment
- Marriage Amendment Boosters: Opponents 'Intimidating' Voters
- Same-Sex Marriage Bill Makes It Through Senate, House Committees
- MN Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics Joins Marriage Amendment Battle
- Beth Jacob Opposes Marriage Amendment
- What's the Harm in Same-Sex Marriage?
- The Future of Marriage
- Reps. Hansen, Atkins Vote 'Yes' on Same-Sex Marriage Bill
- Sen. Metzen Votes 'Yes' on Same-Sex Marriage Bill
- Not Equal After All
- After DFL Wins, Could Legislature Repeal State's Ban on Same-Sex Marriage?
- Failing the Higher Standard: United States v Windsor
- Supreme Court Strikes Down DOMA, Dismisses Prop 8
- Share Your Same-Sex Marriage Story on Patch
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