Home blog Minnesota Family Council denied permission to defend DOMA

Minnesota Family Council denied permission to defend DOMA

0

The Minnesota Family Council wanted to be named as a defendant in a court challenge to Minnesota’s marriage laws, but a judge last week denied their petition. Three same-sex couples filed suit against Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota earlier this year to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

The Family Council argued that it should be a part of the case because their main mission is opposing same-sex marriage, but the court said that wasn’t sufficient.

“The Court certainly understands that the Council feels strongly about the social issue of same-sex marriage,” wrote Minnesota Fourth District Court Judge Mary S. DuFrense “Strong feelings, however, do not establish a legal interest in a lawsuit.”

TheColu.mn’s James Sanna reported last month that if the Family Council was allowed to join the defense, it could bankrupt the same-sex couples who are the plaintiffs.

The full story can be read at the Minnesota Independent.

Previous article Remembering the “Fembers!”
Next article Polly is FunkChanel
Andy Birkey has written for a number of Minnesota and national publications. He founded Eleventh Avenue South which ran from 2002-2011, wrote for the Minnesota Independent from 2006-2011, the American Independent from 2010-2013. His writing has appeared in The Advocate, The Star Tribune, The Huffington Post, Salon, Cagle News Service, Twin Cities Daily Planet, TheUptake, Vita.mn and much more. His writing on LGBT issues, the religious right and social justice has won awards including Best Beat Reporting by the Online News Association, Best Series by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an honorable mention by the Sex-Positive Journalism awards.