Supporters, opponents prepare for long campaign on same-sex marriage amendment

Supporters and opponents of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage are now organizing to lobby voters on the ballot measure.

The Minnesota House voted in favor of the measure over the weekend so voters in the 2012 election will now determine whether the state's constitution should be amended to define marriage "as between one man and one woman."

Tom Prichard, with the Minnesota Family Council, said they will work to tell voters to protect what he calls the "institution of marriage."

"This is about the institution of marriage and why it's fundamental to society," Prichard said. "This is not changing state law in any way. It's basically protecting our existing law in the constitution."

Ann Kaner-Roth with the gay rights group, Project 515, said she expects millions of dollars on paid media campaigns will be spent over the next year and a half. She said their message to voters is not to put what she called discrimination into the constitution.

"We are now moving in the direction of creating an environment where the majority of the electorate is voting on the rights of the minority, and that is not what the constitution is meant for," Kaner-Roth said.

The constitution would be amended if a majority of those voting in the 2012 election vote in favor of the question.