Judge rejects Family Council bid in gay marriage lawsuit

A judge has rejected an attempt by the Minnesota Family Council to intervene in a lawsuit challenging state law that bans same-sex marriage. Three same-sex couples filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota earlier this year arguing that the Defense of Marriage Act signed into law in 1997 violates the state Constitution. The Family Council argued that it should be part of the lawsuit, in part, because if DOMA is ruled unconstitutional, it will cost them millions to fight same-sex marriage. The court said the group has no standing to defend DOMA.

Same-sex couples set to sue Minnesota over marriage rights

As many as 10 same-sex couples will soon file a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota for the right to marry. It’s a controversial move, one that some in the gay and lesbian community think is ill-timed, but those couples who are putting their money on the line and their lives under a microscope say the time is always right to fight for equality.

I sat down with Doug Benson, founder of the organization Marry Me Minnesota, a nonprofit group that formed last year and that is helping to organize the lawsuit. Benson and his partner are also part of the planned lawsuit.