Politics & Government

Minnetonka, Eden Prairie State Senators: One Votes For, One Against Same Sex Marriage

Minnesota appears to be on the fast track to becoming the 12th state in the nation to allow marriages between same-sex partners.

Minnetonka and Eden Prairie's representation in the Minnesota State Senate cast one vote for same sex marriage and one vote against on Monday. 

The Senate gave final approval on the bill with a 37-30 vote. 

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he will sign the bill into law, and the law would take affect on Aug. 1 of this year. 

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

House File 1054/Senate File 925 changes the term "marriage" in state law to "civil marriage," and expands the definition of who can get married from "a man and a woman" to "two persons."

Republican Senate Minority Leader David Hann, who represents Eden Prairie and a portion of Minnetonka in Senate District 48, voted against the bill.

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Sen. David Hann (R-District 48) took exception to accusations that opponents of the same-sex marriage bill are bigots during Monday’s Senate debate on the bill.

“We’re all opposed to the idea of unfairly discriminating and being prejudicial against our fellow citizens,” said Hann. “It’s not about that. And I think, frankly, for those of us who differ on this issue to be accused of those things is deeply, deeply offensive because it is untrue.”

For his part, Hann said that same-sex marriage goes against the natural order. He said heterosexual marriage is the only institution that unites children with their biological mothers and fathers. 

Hann also rejected the argument that the legalization of same-sex marriage wouldn’t affect those who aren’t homosexual. He worried that the bill could set up a conflict with religious freedom and argued that it would be a significant cultural change.

“Let’s be honest, that this redefinition, this changing of what marriage means will affect all of us. It will affect all of us,” he said.

Sen. Terri Bonoff (DFL-District 44) represents parts of Minnetonka, Plymouth and Woodland and is a co-author of the bill. She was unquestionably conscious of the historical nature of Monday’s same-sex marriage vote in the Senate—and its echoes across the country.

“I am so honored to speak on the Senate floor on this issue because I know that I’m not standing up here as me, as Terri Bonoff, state senator. I’m standing here to bring a voice for all of those who are not standing on the Senate floor but feel so strongly,” Bonoff said. “I’m standing here for my family, for my friends, for constituents—but really people all over the state, all over the country and even around the world. Because this conversation we’re having today is not an isolated conversation. In chambers like ours around the country—and in places around the world—these same conversations are taking place.”

But Bonoff quickly drilled down to the people she knows who’d be affected. She described learning that her brother was gay more than 30 years ago. Although they accepted him with love, they worried about how the rest of the world would respond, she said.

She also talked about a close friend from college who died from AIDS and neighbors down the street.

For all those people, Bonoff said, she planned to “press this green vote.”

House Vote

Minnesota Representatives approved with a 75-59 vote Thursday a bill legalizing same-sex marriages in the state.

After remaining publically undecided through much of the same-sex marriage debate, Rep. Jenifer Loon (R-District 48B) of Eden Prairie endorsed a measure from Rep. Tim Kelly (R-District 21A) to remove the term “marriage” from state law for both heterosexual and homosexual couples. When that measure failed, Loon voted for the full bill. 

Local Democatic Reps. Yvonne Selcer (DFL-District 48A) and John Benson (DFL- District 44B) also voted for the bill Thursday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here