Minnesota Fourth District Court Judge Mary S. DuFrense told the Minnesota Family Council that it has no right to intervene in a lawsuit filed earlier this year by three same-sex couples that challenges the state’s ban on gay marriage, according to The Minnesota Independent.
The Minnesota Family Council claims that it should be part of the lawsuit because if the state’s 1997 Defense of Marriage Act is found to violate its constitution, the Council will be forced to spend millions of dollars to continue to prevent same-sex couples from legally marrying.
In her ruling, DuFrense eloquently wrote, “The Council’s alleged injuries would occur solely due to its sincerely held belief that principles rooted in its interpretations of religious texts are best for the well-being of children and families, and that marriage only between one man and one woman accords with these principles. The Court certainly understands that the Council feels strongly about the social issue of same-sex marriage. Strong feelings, however, do not establish a legal interest in a lawsuit.”
