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   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
Minnesota  
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State Information

Government Website: http://www.state.mn.us/cgi-bin/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?id=-8494&agency=NorthStar

Outline of State Law
Current Status of Law Concerning Marriage and Date of Passage 1997 - State Law Passed 
State Law Prohibits/Voids Same Sex/Same Gender Marriage no 
State Law Defines Marriage between a Man and a Woman yes 
State Law Denies Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages Solemnized in Other States no 
State Law States that Same Sex Marriage is not Aligned with State Public Policy no  
State Law Defines "Spouse" as Referring Only to a Person of the Opposite Sex Who is Married as Husband or Wife no 

Statutory Provision

Minnesota State Statutes 517.01 Marriage a civil contract. Marriage, so far as its validity in law is concerned, is a civil contract between a man and a woman, to which the consent of the parties, capable in law of contracting, is essential. Lawful marriage may be contracted only between persons of the opposite sex and only when a license has been obtained as provided by law and when the marriage is contracted in the presence of two witnesses and solemnized by one authorized, or whom one or both of the parties in good faith believe to be authorized, so to do. Marriages subsequent to April 26, 1941, not so contracted shall be null and void.

Current Legislative Activity

  • A constitutional amendment to defend traditional marriage (SF 3500) been introduced, and is being debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee. If it passes the difficult democratic majority committee, it will be voted on in the senate floor. This amendment could go to voters as early as November 2006. The text of the proposed amendment is:
Sec. 13. Only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Minnesota. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent.

The text as it will appear to on the ballot is:

Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that marriage or its legal equivalent is limited to only the union of one man and one woman?

Further resources on the history of the marriage debate in Minnesota, see this report.

U.S. Senators
US Senators and their Comments on FMA

Norm Coleman, Republican
http://coleman.senate.gov/
This senator was elected in 2002, thefore not present for the federal DOMA in 1996. The senator voted for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004 and 2006.

Amy Klobuchar, Democrat
http://klobuchar.senate.gov/
This senator was elected in 2006, therefore was not present to vote on the federal DOMA or the Marriage Protection Amendments.

State Public Policy Organizations Working on Marriage Issues

Minnesota For Marriage



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