Scott Dibble, Minnesota's Only Out Gay Senator Gives Emotional Speech on Marriage Equality: VIDEO

Senator Scott Dibble, the author of the marriage bill and the Senate's only out gay member, offered an emotional speech before the vote as his husband Richard Leyva looked on from the gallery. Dibble married Leyva in California in August of 2008.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

And don't miss Senator Tom Bakk's speech I posted earlier.

Chances Look Good for Minnesota Marriage Equality Bill to Get to House, Senate Floors

Minnesota's marriage equality reportedly has the votes it needs to get to the House floor, the AP reports:

...the bill was already headed for a key boost in the House Civil Law Committee: nine of 17 members on that committee told The Associated Press they would vote for the bill, enough to send it on to the full House.

Both House Civil Law and the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled hearings next Tuesday on the bill, and its success in Senate Judiciary looks nearly as likely. Four of eight members told the AP they'd vote yes; a fifth, DFL Sen. Barb Goodwin, said she supports gay marriage but is uncomfortable moving so quickly to legalize it in Minnesota. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Scott Dibble (above), said he was confident of winning over Goodwin.

All the confirmed yes votes in both committees come from Democrats, who hold the House and Senate majorities. So far, only one Republican lawmaker out of 89 has committed to supporting the bill.

"I never pretended I would do anything but support it," said Rep. Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester. "It's just the right thing to do and I can't even imagine voting another way."

Minnesota's Marriage Equality Bill Coming This Week: VIDEO

Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble is introducing marriage equality legislation this week, he told WCCO:

Dibble believes this legislation has the momentum to pass after voters defeated a constitutional amendment that would’ve strengthened the existing gay marriage ban.

“It’s just simply an amendment that removes the restriction that disallows some couples from getting married,” Dibble said. “My strong sense, even from folks in greater Minnesota, is that they’re comfortable with this, they know that Minnesota has changed a lot and is continuing to change at a very rapid pace.”

State Representative Karen Clark is expected to introduce a similar bill in the House. Neither she nor Dibble expect a vote on their bills until later this session after the Minnesota Legislature passes budget bills.

Gov. Mark Dayton has said he will sign a bill legalizing same-sex marriage if it reaches his desk.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...