Hinckley's DFL state representative Tim Faust has voted with the minority on some issues this session, but today he announced that he's one more "yes" voter toward the freedom for all loving Minnesota couples to marry the people they love.
WDIO (ABC) reports in Another Northland DFL'er Backs Gay Marriage:
DFL state representative, who's also a Lutheran pastor, says he'll vote to legalize gay marriage.
Rep. Tim Faust, of Hinckley, is among a group of rural House Democrats whose votes are pivotal to the gay marriage bill's success or failure. He had been undecided coming into the session, but says Monday he thinks the bill would simply let individual churches decide whether or not to perform same-sex unions.
Faust says he knows some constituents will be disappointed but he hopes they give him a chance to explain his decision.
Faust was genuinely undecided. He had spoken at the Minnesota For Marriage anti-freedom RV stop in Hinckley in April, making clear that he had not made up his mind. Days later, he also attended the snowbound marriage freedom rally at the capital. Bluestem noted in Kid fears: M4M sends a mailer to St. Charles and warms up the RV for the weekend road trip:
On Saturday, KARE-11 reported in Anti-gay marriage rally held in Hinckley:. . .State Representative Tim Faust of Hinckley told the crowd that he was not entirely sure why he was speaking to them since he had not decided yet how to vote on the gay marriage bills moving through the legislature.
"I will always, always give you the opportunity to convince me that you're right. Always. and the problem is that I also will give the other side the opportunity to convince me that they're right too. It goes both ways," said Faust.
He invited those assembled to write and call him with their opinions. . . .
Rep. Tim Faust, DFL-Hinckley, has been one of the most watched members of the House on the marriage issue. He’s an undecided DFLer from a largely rural area that voted overwhelmingly for an amendment in November that would have banned same-sex marriage in the state Constitution.
A week ago, Faust had told a group of gay marriage opponents that he was unsure how he would vote.
On Thursday, Faust said for the first time that he is leaning toward legalizing same-sex marriage — even if many of his constituents disagree.
Faust stood to the side of the rally Thursday, unprotected from the sleet and rain. He said nearly all the arguments against same-sex marriage are biblical but noted that many devoted people view it the other way.
“Then the question becomes, do we have the right to impose our religious belief on others?” Faust asked. “If the reason we are arguing we shouldn’t be doing this is because of religious beliefs, it’s pretty hard to make that argument.”
Moments later, state Rep. Karen Clark walked up to Faust. The Minneapolis DFLer is a lead sponsor of the same-sex marriage legislation.
She locked arms with Faust and smiled. Then the two walked though the driving sleet back to the Capitol.
Momentum is clearly on the side of fairness for all loving couples. Will any Republican house member have the courage to break with their caucus's socially conservative hive mind to join with prominent party leaders who support individual freedom when it comes to marriage?
Photo: Representative Tim Faust (DFL-Hinkley).
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