St. Louis County Commissioners Vote Against Amendment to Ban Gay Marriage

DULUTH, Minn. - St. Louis County commissioners are on record in opposition to a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

The majority of speakers at the county board meeting Tuesday urged commissioners to oppose any constitutional amendment that would take away rights rather than guarantee them. Henry Banks told commissioners there's too much hate in this country and that they shouldn't restrict a person's right to love.

Commissioner Steve Raukar, of Hibbing, said it was important for local elected officials to show leadership in opposing the amendment which he called "harmful, mean, spiteful and regressive." The board voted 4-3 to oppose the amendment.

The Duluth News Tribune ( http://tinyurl.com/8u9j53r) says the county joins more than a dozen city councils in opposing the marriage amendment on the Nov. 6 ballot.