Capitol View: March 11, 2013 Archive

Policast: GOP lawmaker taking heat for support of same-sex marriage

Posted at 12:34 PM on March 11, 2013 by Jon Collins (3 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature, Policast

Policast for March 11, 2013:

Listen

The only Republican in the Legislature currently supporting a bill to legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota said he's already taken some heat from constituents for his stance.

"I always take that very seriously," Sen. Branden Petersen of Andover told MPR's Cathy Wurzer on Monday. "Issues like this that are really about equal justice under the law and that are transcendent ideas in our democracy, I don't think you should ever make those decisions just because 50 percent plus 1 percent of people believe it ought to be done."

Some have said the same-sex marriage bill is moving too quickly. Petersen disagrees.

"When you're talking about equal protection and equal justice under the law, it's always the right time to stand up for those issues."

Petersen, 27, is the Senate bill's co-author. He said that young Republicans and older members of the party are divided on the issue of same-sex marriage.

"Every piece of data shows that Republicans, in particular under the age of 30, actually the majority support marriage equality under the law," Petersen said. "That's the beginning of a trend that I think is a good thing for Republicans as well."

Petersen, who voted along with most other Republicans in 2011 to put a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the ballot, said he changed his stance after "reflection."

Committees in both the state House and Senate will consider bills legalizing same-sex marriage tomorrow.

The entire discussion with Sen. Branden Petersen can be heard on the March 11, 2013 episode of Policast. That episode also includes an interview with Rep. Pat Garofalo on his bill that would shrink the size of the Minnesota Legislature.

Policast is a daily roundup of Minnesota political news hosted by Mike Mulcahy and Cathy Wurzer. Subscribe on iTunes.

House riled by lawmaker's comments on "gay lifestyle"

Posted at 4:38 PM on March 11, 2013 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

Several members of the Minnesota House are criticizing Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, R-Glencoe, for introducing a friend on the House floor by saying that that he said "exited the gay lifestyle."

Gruenhagen used what's called in the House vernacular "a point of personal privilege" to introduce Kevin Petersen, who is a member of the Pro-Marriage Amendment Forum that worked to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

"The interesting thing about Kevin is he was active in the gay lifestyle for about ten years and then he left it, got married and now has three children," Gruenhagen said. Listen

While some members clapped, a bipartisan group of lawmakers groaned when Gruenhagen made his comments. The announcement prompted DFL House Speaker Paul Thissen to ban the practice of allowing members to publicly introduce guests who visit the chambers.

"It's a totally inappropriate use of the point of personal privilege," Thissen said. "It offends members of our legislative body."

Rep. Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul, said he was shocked by Gruenhagen's comments.

"It was an absolutely inappropriate use of the privilege of the House and it was very offensive. I'm glad the speaker ruled the way that he did," Paymar said.

Gruenhagen's comments came one day before committees in the House and Senate hold a hearing on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage. Gruenhagen couldn't be reached for comment after his speech. He opposes the bill. He made news a few weeks ago when he said during a news conference that homosexuality is "an unhealthy, sexual addiction" and argued that there is "no gay gene."

GOP House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt initially sidestepped questions about Gruenhagen's comments, but later issued a statement calling Gruenhagen's comments "inappropriate." He agreed with Thissen on the decision to stop allowing members to announce guests on the House floor.