A majority of Minnesotans oppose
lawmakers legalizing gay marriage, a new poll has found.
According to the Star Tribune Minnesota
Poll released Tuesday, 53 percent of respondents said the state's
current law limiting marriage to heterosexual unions should remain.
Thirty-eight percent endorsed a legislative effort to extend marriage
to gay and lesbian couples, while 9 percent refused to answer.
Opposition is higher outside the
Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area (referred to locally as
Outstate), where 73 percent of respondents remain opposed.
“Gay marriage is not right, and
that's just all there is to it,” Ed Carlson, 66, of Brainerd, told
the Star-Tribune.
“I feel very strongly about it.”
A majority (57%) of residents in
Hennepin and Ramsey counties, which includes the Twin Cities area,
want marriage equality.
“If it can be done quickly without a
lot of bells and whistles, then they should absolutely do it,”
Jackie Colwell, 46, told the paper. “It's time for same-sex
marriage to be legalized. Minnesota is ready for it. I just don't
want it to become this circus atmosphere at the Capitol, though.”
Backers introduced a marriage bill at a
press conference held last week. The move comes five months after
Democrats regained control of the Legislature and voters rejected a
proposed constitutional amendment which sought to define marriage as
a heterosexual union.
(Related: Minnesota
gay marriage bill introduced.)