UPDATED: Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment will be on the 2012 Ballot in Minnesota

In a late night move yesterday, the Minnesota House voted to put the Gay Marriage ban on the ballot for 2012.

And if the five-hour House debate is any indication, Minnesotans are in for 18 months of emotional and hard-fought campaigning. The campaign is expected to bring in millions of dollars for both sides.

An hour after the House voted 70-62 to ask voters to decide whether marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman, those opposed to the amendment launched their campaign, Minnesotans United for All Families.

Bill sponsor Rep. Steve Gottwalt, R-St. Cloud, said the issue is so important that the public should decide it.

“Not all wisdom resides here in the state Legislature and not all wisdom resides in our courts,” Gottwalt said as debate wound down.

As votes were tallied, “just vote no” chants came from outside the House chamber.
Opponents said they do not like where the amendment campaign could take Minnesota.
“That makes me fear for our state,” Rep. Kate Knuth, DFL-New Brighton, said.

WATCH how this went down

All eyes will be on Minnesota in the upcoming months. I can't believe our rights are up for a vote.

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