Bill > HF1710

This bill, known as the Marriage and Family Protection Act, enacts gender-neutral marriage laws in Minnesota by amending existing statutes. It declares that marriage is a civil contract between two persons, not just between a man and a woman, and removes prohibitions against same-sex marriage. The bill also updates language to be gender-neutral, replacing terms like "bride and groom" with "parties" and "husband and wife" with "spouse" in various legal contexts, including marriage license applications and solemnization ceremonies. The legislative findings emphasize that current laws discriminate against same-sex couples, denying them rights and benefits, and that allowing same-sex marriage promotes stable relationships and benefits the entire community. The bill also clarifies that it does not require the promotion of homosexuality or bisexuality in educational institutions and respects the religious freedom of both those who object to and those who support same-sex marriage.