A slim majority, 51 percent, of Minnesota voters now support marriage equality and believe the law should be changed to include same-sex couples a new poll finds. The poll also finds 47 percent are opposed to expanding marriage to same-sex couples. Same-sex marriage has been a consistent topic for voters in the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” having opted for a state law in 1997 banning marriage for gay couples, but becoming the second state in the nation last year to refuse to vote in favor of a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.
U.S. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota built her political career on the issue, so it should come as liitle surprise that only two percent of voters polled were undecided.
“Legalizing same-sex marriage in Minnesota would add $42 million to the state’s economy and $3 million in tax revenue in the first three years, according to an analysis from UCLA law school,” according to an article last week in the Pioneer Press:
The Williams Institute at UCLA conducts research on “sexual orientation and gender identity law and public policy,” according to its website. Last month, the institute estimated same-sex marriage in Illinois would generate more than $100 million in additional spending and $8.5 million in tax revenue in that state.
In Minnesota, analysts figured, about 5,000 gay couples would choose to marry in the three years following legalization of same-sex marriage. A bill to make gay marriage legal is expected to be come to a vote later this session in both the state House and Senate.
The poll, conducted by Survey USA and sponsored by KSTP-TV Minneapolis, found attitudes on same-sex marriage similar to those across the nation, with the highest support coming from voters under 49, voters who have a college education, make more than $40,000 annually, live in urban areas, and do not self-identify as conservative or Republican.
50 percent of men and 53 percent of women the poll finds, support marriage for same-sex couples and believe the law should be changed to reflect that.
Image by Scott Wooledge/Memeographs