[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6815]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                CELEBRATING MINNESOTA MARRIAGE EQUALITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2013

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, today is a historic day for Minnesota. 
Marriage equality will become the law in our state, and I stand with my 
fellow Minnesotans to celebrate the equality of love and access to 
civil rights for all families. I applaud the courageous legislators who 
voted with their hearts for justice and equality for all families.
  I am inspired by the dedication and compassion of all those who have 
worked to make the freedom to marry a reality in our state. Just two 
years ago, a hurtful and discriminatory amendment was proposed to 
constitutionally exclude Minnesota's same-sex couples from marriage. 
Yet through countless thoughtful conversations and the brave sharing of 
personal stories, a coalition was built that defeated the amendment.
  Here in Washington I am mindful that much work remains to be done. 
Same-sex couples who will soon be legally married in Minnesota will 
still not be federally recognized because the Defense of Marriage Act 
(DOMA) discriminates against them. These couples will be denied more 
than 1,000 federal rights and benefits that their neighbors are 
eligible to receive. I will continue to work to repeal DOMA and I hope 
in the coming weeks the U.S. Supreme Court will rule it 
unconstitutional.
  All Americans deserve to be treated equally under the law. I look 
forward to the day when we can celebrate marriage equality all across 
America. Until then, I share in the joy of another step forward in the 
struggle for equal rights for all, regardless of their race, age, 
gender, or sexual orientation.

                          ____________________