Minnesota State Rep. Steve Simon’s Pro-Gay Speech Makes Waves on YouTube

ST. PAUL, Minn. - "How many gays must God create before we accept that he wants them around?"

That’s the take-home line in a powerful speech by Minnesota State Rep. Steve Simon against banning gay marriage in the state.

Video of Rep. Simon’s speech had more than 170,000 YouTube views by Thursday morning after getting linked on national websites and blogs, including PerezHilton.com. Simons’ speech came during a Capitol hearing on Monday.

In 1971, Minnesota was one of the first states to rule on the issue of same-sex marriage and for the past 40 years, gay couples have been unable to marry. Now that Republicans have control of the Minnesota Legislature, they want to make it a permanent part of the constitution with a ballot question in 2012.

Simon says he doubts the attention his speech is getting will keep the issue off the ballot, but he says he hopes it influences Minnesota voters who are undecided on the gay marriage debate.

Since state law already defines marriage as between a man and a woma n, many have wondered why congressional Republicans are pushing a constitutional amendment. The bill’s sponsor said Minnesotans want to decide for themselves and don’t want to leave the issue up to judges or politicians, but others have suggested the GOP is proposing the amendment in the hopes of boosting voter turnout in the 2012 elections.

If the bill ultimately passes the House and Senate, voters may see the following question on election day next year: "Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to provide that only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized in Minnesota?"

On Wednesday, several local university law professors sent an open letter to lawmakers saying that the amendment would have far-reaching legal implications and is unnecessary given current state law.

Watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXpOA3jPC04