Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann has not
said much about passage of a gay marriage law in her home state of
Minnesota.
With the stroke of a pen on Tuesday
from Democratic Governor Mark Dayton, Minnesota became the 12th
state to legalize such unions. Gay and lesbian couples can begin
marrying on August 1.
As a Minnesota state senator, Bachmann
sponsored a resolution which sought to constitutionally define
marriage as a heterosexual union.
At a 2012 event sponsored by the
Christian conservative group The Family Leader, Bachmann said she was
prompted to introduce the amendment by the 2003 Massachusetts Supreme
Court decision that legalized gay nuptials in that state.
“When that happened, I heard the news
on my local Christian radio station in Minneapolis-St. Paul and I was
devastated,” she said. “And I took a walk and I just went to
prayer and I said, 'Lord, what would you have me do in the Minnesota
state Senate?' And just through prayer I knew that I was to
introduce the marriage amendment in Minnesota.”
But her propoasl never made it to the
ballot box.
Still, she encouraged Minnesota
Republicans in 2010 to reintroduce a similar measure after they
regained control of the Legislature and thanked supporters after its
passage.
“Minnesota is the first state that
has decided that this issue will be on the ballot in 2012. The state
of New Hampshire will be taking this issue up as well, and other
states,” she told a Faith and Freedom Coalition gathering in
Washington. “This is the time. And so I want to encourage all of
you at home, if you don’t have a similar amendment, consider this
in your home states. I believe this is the time to do it. So I just
want to say thank you to those who continue to carry that torch.”
Bachmann also chided President Barack
Obama when he endorsed marriage equality, calling him “out of
touch.”
“I will continue to protect
traditional marriage, despite our president's decision to thumb his
nose at the traditional institution of marriage,” she said.
After passage of a marriage law in New
York, Bachmann said she recognized the state's right to decide the
issue.
“It's state law,” Bachmann said
during an appearance on Fox News Sunday. “And the 10th
amendment reserves to the states that right.”
After Minnesota lawmakers gave final
approval to the law on Monday, Minnesota's best known opponent
released a statement expressing disappointment.
She added in a series of tweets: “I'm
proud to have introduced the original traditional marriage amendment,
and I thank all Minnesotans who have worked so hard on this issue. I
appreciate @SenWarrenLimmer and other legislators' steadfast support
of traditional marriage in the face of pressure.”