Vote on same-sex marriage less certain after appearance by anti-gay pastor | Minnesota Public Radio News
It appears the Bradlee Dean appearance was a ploy to help stop (gasp!) Gay Marriage — a bill was coming up for vote and now that is much less certain.
A freshman Republican House member apologized Friday for inviting a pastor who has frequently spoken out against homosexuality to deliver an opening prayer — an appearance legislators of both parties denounced.
Rep. Ernie Leidiger, R-Mayer, confirmed that he invited Bradlee Dean to give a prayer, which Leidiger said just happened to be scheduled on the same day House leaders considered voting on whether to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the 2012 ballot.
The vote was less certain after Dean’s appearance, and the House was expected to recess until evening.
“We didn’t know he was that controversial, certainly I didn’t,” Leidiger said. “That was not my intention to bring a controversial figure like that in before the House. This is an honest mistake.”