More history was made in Minnesota in terms of same-sex marriage. The same state that made history after voters defeated a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage back in November is one step close to legalizing it. On Tuesday CBS Minnesota reports that the state's Senate committee has approved a bill that would legalize gay marriage in the state.
The bill passed 5-3 moving it one step close to a vote by the full Legislature.
This marks more progress in the state of Minnesota as this was the first time a state legislative committee has backed marriage rights for gay couples who are asking for legal recognition of their marriages that are not yet granted by law.
But opponents of the bill say there will be consequences if it passes, stating that gay lifestyles will be influential in negative ways because it will be taught in schools, there would be ramifications from reading the Bible and the prospect that businesses could be charged with hate crimes for refusing to serve gay customers.
They also believe it will change the role of parenting, particularly the roles of mothers and fathers.
Senator Dan Hall who is a Republican and also a pastor said: "I don't want to redefine, I don't think we actually can redefine marriage. We can do it in these laws but God is the one to define marriage."
But one former opponent made her voice known and told the panel about her change of mind regarding same-sex marriage. Former Minnesota lawmaker Lynne Osterman voiced that she regretted supporting anti-gay legislation in the 90's.
She says: "In my only term as a member, I cast a politically expedient vote in favor of DOMA and I regretted that ever since."
Her regret sounds similar to former President Bill Clinton who initially signed the Defense of Marriage Act, but who recently urged the Supreme Court to overturn the bill.
Hopefully the message of the overall story in the state of Minnesota is the recognition that the definition of family and marriage come in different forms adding to the definition and not re-defining it.
As one supporter said: "no member of anyone's family - gay or straight - should be singled out and denied their basic freedom to marry simply because of who we are."
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