Opponents of a constitutional ban on gay marriage were out in force at the Capitol Thursday.
A large crowd of gay people, their families, supporters and dozens of priests and pastors packed a prayer rally in the Capitol Rotunda. Their message was that supporters of the proposed gay marriage ban don't have a monopoly on religion.
The rally follows a similar event by supporters of a gay marriage ban earlier in the week.
The Reverend Paul Tiedeman of the St. Paul Reformation Lutheran Church told those gathered that he and his wife have been married for decades, with children and grandchildren. He says it's ridiculous to think his marriage is threatened by, quote, "your loving relationships."
Several speakers at the event said they don't think Minnesota is a state where people support denying the rights of some in the state Constitution.
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
