Hearing on same-sex marriage bill slated for next week

A hearing on a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota is expected to be held next week.

Rep. John Lesch, DFL-St. Paul, who chairs the House Civil Law Committee, said he intends to hold a hearing next Tuesday or Wednesday. Lesch said he expects the hearing to be extended into the evening to ensure that the public has ample opportunity to testify.

"My intent is to get all of the proponents and opponents on a list," Lesch said. "I will take proponents and opponents alternatively."

Lesch also said next week's hearing will be the only committee stop in the House. And even though the legislation has received plenty of media scrutiny, Lesch said he doesn't expect any fireworks because the issue received plenty of attention during the last election year.

"It's not one of those bills that came out of the blue upon which everyone have to get organized," Lesch said.

Voters defeated a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage last November.

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