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MN: House Approves Funeral Rights for Gay/Lesbian Couples

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

On Tuesday, the Minnesota House approved a measure that allows gay and lesbian couples to control the remains of a loved one. If approved, it would be the first time the state has recognized gay couples as domestic partners.

House members approved the measure on a 78-to-55 vote.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Eric Murphy, a Saint Paul Democrat, allows a surviving domestic partner to decide what to do with the remains of a loved one. Currently, only married spouses can make such decisions under Minnesota law. The measure also allows a partner the right to sue to recover funeral and hospital costs in the event of a wrongful death.

Full Story from On Top Magazine

Click here for gay marriage resources in Minnesota.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in funeral rights, gay couples, lesbian couples, minnesota | No Responses »
Tags: domestic partners, funeral rights, gay couples, Gay Marriage, lesbian couples, marriage equality, minnesota, mn, same sex marriage

MN: House Debates Marriage Equality Bills

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Lawmakers in Minnesota’s House are considering several legislative bills on the subject of gay unions, Politics in Minnesota reported. Three proposals would limit marriage to a heterosexual union by amending Minnesota’s Constitution. Those bills have yet to receive a hearing in this session.

But on Monday, three pro-gay bills introduced last March were aired out in a House committee. One measure, sponsored by Representative Joe Mullery, DFL-Minneapolis, would recognize gay and lesbian couples with civil unions. And Golden Valley Representative Ryan Winkler’s bill seeks to recognize legal marriages performed outside the state. A third bill proposes legalizing gay marriage.

Representative Phyllis Kahn, a Minneapolis Democrat and sponsor of the measure, testified on behalf of her bill. “I just want to personally state that I think allowing other people to get married poses absolutely no threat to my marriage,” Kahn told the committee. “The legislative session is probably a little more damaging.”

Full Story from On Top Magazine
Click here for gay marriage resources in Minnesota.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in bills, Gay Marriage, house committee, marriage equality, minnesota, mn, same sex marriage | No Responses »

MN: House Committee to Conduct Hearing on Gay Marriage Next Week

Friday, February 19th, 2010

The House Civil Justice Committee will be the first in Minnesota’s history to conduct a hearing on the possibility of legalizing same-sex marriage in the state. Three bills will be up for discussion on Monday, and all three are supportive of expanded relationship rights for Minnesota’s same-sex couples.

The Marriage and Family Protection Act would make marriages in Minnesota gender neutral, a civil unions bill is also being proposed and another bill would recognize same-sex marriage performed in states where it is legal, such as neighboring Iowa.

“The hearing will be historic because it is the first time a committee in our state Legislature will be looking at what enacting marriage equality means for Minnesota,” said OutFront Minnesota, the state’s largest LGBT equality group.

Full Story from The Column
Click here for gay marriage resources.
To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Posted in committee hearing, Gay Marriage, house, marriage equality, minnesota, mn, same sex marriage | No Responses »

MN: Quakers Stop Signing Marriage Certiticates Until Gay Marriage Legalized

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

A group of Twin Cities Quakers has decided to stop signing marriage certificates for opposite-sex couples until the state legalizes gay marriage. “We’re simply trying to be consistent with the will of God as we perceive it,” said Paul Landskroener, clerk of the Twin Cities Friends Meeting, in an interview with MPR’s All Things Considered on Monday.

The congregation will continue to hold both opposite-sex and same-sex weddings at its meeting house, but will no longer sign the legal marriage certificate for opposite-sex couples. Instead, couples will need to have the certificate signed by a justice of the peace.

“Everything else proceeds as it normally has, except that we will not sign the marriage certificate,” Landskroener said.

Full Story from MPR: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/12/07/quaker-marriage/

Click here for gay marriage resources in Minnesota.

Posted in Gay Marriage, marriage certificates, minnesota, mn, quakers | No Responses »

Minnesota Clergy Speaks Out for Gay Marriage

Thursday, October 8th, 2009

Several prominent Twin Cities religious leaders are speaking in favor of marriage rights for same-gender couples in Minnesota.

Retired Bishop Lowell Erdahl of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Rabbi Jared Saks of Temple Israel in Minneapolis are among those speaking at a Capitol news conference.

In past years, a number of faith leaders spoke out against a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prohibited legal recognition of same-sex couples. But organizer OutFront Minnesota says this is the first coordinated statement by clergy in support of gay marriage rights in Minnesota.

Full Story from WCCO: http://wcco.com/wireapnewsmn/Prominent.Minn.clergy.2.1235050.html