While all DFL candidates for Governor support marriage equality, one candidate, Susan Gaertner, told a crowd of DFLers at a debate in Hopkins on Tuesday that marriage equality would be their first bill signed. Eric Black at Minnpost notes: “If she had to choose one bill to make her first as governor, it would be marriage equality (which means legalizing same-sex marriage).”

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner has been making the rounds at LGBT political functions so her support isn’t a big surprise. It’s also important to note that candidate Sen. John Marty has twice introduced legislation to make marriage laws in Minnesota gender-neutral. And the LGBT community has had the strong support of the other 8 candidates for governor: Tom Bakk, Tom Rukavina, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, R.T. Rybak, Steve Kelley, Matt Entenza, Mark Dayton, and Paul Thissen,

While marriage equality is written into the DFL party platform (and has been since the early 1970s), the current campaign cycle is the first time the candidates have taken the issue to the forefront as they vie for party’s endorsement.

The Stonewall DFL will be screening candidates for governor on Dec. 12 and making an endorsement decision on Dec. 13.