Waiting for Gay Marriage Vote at Minnesota Capitol

ST. PAUL, Minn. - If Friday is anything like Thursday, there will be hundreds of activists on both sides of the gay marriage debate gathered at the Minnesota Capitol again.

It's looking more likely a referendum to constitutionally ban same sex marriage could be on the ballot in 2012, but the House did not vote on the measure on Thursday.

"We do believe we are vulnerable as a country to the undermining of marriage," said anti-gay marriage demonstrator George Studor of Brooklyn Center.

"I think it's very concerning that we would put to a vote the rights of a minority," said Betsy Kerr of Golden Valley.

If it clears both chambers, Gov. Mark Dayton has no authority to block it from being on the ballot. It would then be up to voters whether to put the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman in the state Constitution. 

Minnesota state law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman, but this would put it in the Constitution. Two Republicans have spoken out against the amendment, but those two alone would not be enough to keep it from passing.

One of them is freshman Rep. John Kriesel, of Cottage Grove, who said the budget is his top priority and that same sex marriage is not why he was elected. He will not vote in favor of the measure.

"I hear the argument all the time. 'Let the people vote. It's the people's right to vote,' and you know what? I disagree. It's not. It's not my neighbors right for what I can and can't do in my house," Kriesel said.

All 11 Democrats on the committee opposed the measure. The bill's sponsor says Minnesotans should decide for themselves, but there is a lot of work being done behind the scenes to get more house Republicans to cross party lines.