Presidential candidate and Minnesota
Representative Michele Bachmann on Sunday signaled she's OK with
states deciding on whether to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.
Bachmann, who is opposed to gay rights
and, as a Minnesota State Senator, pushed for an amendment to the
state constitution banning gay marriage, was asked her thoughts on
New York's move to become the sixth – and most populous – state
to legalize marriage equality during an appearance on Fox News
Sunday.
“In New York state, they have passed
the law at the state legislative level and, under the 10th
amendment, the states have the right to set the laws that they want
to set,” Bachmann told host Chris Wallace.
“That's up to the people of New
York,” she responded when Wallace noted that she opposes such
rights. “I think that it's best to allow the people to decide on
the issue. I think it's best if there is an amendment that goes on
the ballot, where people can weigh in.”
“But you would agree,” Wallace
interrupted, “if it's passed by the state legislature and signed by
the governor then that's the state's position?”
“It's state law,” Bachmann said.
“And the 10th amendment reserves to the states that
right.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this page.)
Gay
and lesbian couples in New York will be able to marry as early as
next month.