ST. PAUL, Minn., March 9 (UPI) -- A Minnesota House committee Tuesday began hearings on a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban marriage between homosexuals.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune says a bill prohibiting gay marriage is expected to win approval in the House Civil Law Committee, setting the stage for a heated debate in the full Legislature.
The bill is pretty straightforward. It declares marriage is a union between a man and woman.
Thirty-eight states, including Minnesota, have already enacted Defense of Marriage laws and President George W. Bush last month called for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to ban gay marriage.
At least 14 states, including Kansas, Wisconsin and Georgia, are debating gay marriage bans. A measure to amend the state constitution to outlaw same-sex marriage failed in Idaho.
