Politics & Government

Gov. Dayton Declares Today is "Freedom to Marry Day"

Minnesota became the 12th (or 13th, as Rhode Island also joined in) state to recognize same-sex marriages at 12:01 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.

(Story by Patch associate regional editor Mike Schoemer)

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton has issued a proclamation designating today (Thursday, Aug. 1) as  ‘Freedom to Marry Day’ in Minnesota. 

Not one to miss the chance to weigh in on the historic event, Dayton on Wednesday pointed to historic national documents and, of course, love in this proclamation. 

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The proclamation, available here, reads as follows:

WHEREAS:     Our nation’s founding principle was stated more than 237 years ago in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness;” and

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WHEREAS:     That principle was later embodied in the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution: “No State shall…deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws;” and

 

WHEREAS:     These deeply held American ideals of liberty and justice must assuredly protect the freedom for every person to marry the person they love; and

 

WHEREAS:     Throughout its history, some of our country’s most important progress has been to extend equal rights and protections to everyone. And while that progress has often been difficult and initially divisive, it has always been the next step forward to fulfilling our country’s promise to every American; and

 

WHEREAS:     On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, I was honored and proud to sign the Freedom to Marry bill into law on the steps of the Minnesota State Capitol; and

 

WHEREAS:     On Thursday, August 1, 2013, same-sex couples shall be free to marry in the State of Minnesota, and this event will be celebrated at the stroke of midnight with marriages across our great state.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MARK DAYTON, Governor of Minnesota, do hereby proclaim Thursday, August 1, 2013, as: FREEDOM TO MARRY DAY in the State of Minnesota.

The passage of the Marriage Equality Act came during the 2013 state legislative session after state voters last November rejected the proposed Marriage Amendment Act, which would have legally defined marriage as only between one woman and one man. 

This past legislative session, Roseville Sen. John Marty was among the leading advocates for the Marriage Equality Act. 

Also on Patch: 

Same-Sex Marriage, Other Laws Take Effect in Minnesota Aug. 1

The state now recognize marriages between same-sex couples, according to law, that became effective at midnight Thursday. Other laws address the local beer businesses and stiffer penalties for some criminals.

(Patch editor Scott Carlson contributed to this report.)

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