Anti-gay marriage group apologizes

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Advocates for a Minnesota referendum banning same-sex marriage have apologized for an activist's remark likening their opponents to Adolf Hitler.

Autumn Leva, a spokeswoman for Minnesota for Marriage, said Tuesday that Brad Brandon, the group's head of church outreach, "used a poor analogy," the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported. But she said she agreed with his larger point that legalizing same-sex marriage would infringe on the religious freedom of those who oppose it.

Brandon said Hitler and the Nazis prevented Jews from practicing their religion freely or operating businesses as they wished. Minnesotans United for All Families, which opposes the amendment, distributed a video of Brandon's remarks.