Gov. Symbolically Vetoes Gay Marriage Ban

Minnesota governor Mark Dayton made a symbolic veto Wednesday of a bill that proposes banning gay marriage through a ballot initiative in 2012. The veto is only symbolic because the ballot initiative will still be posed to voters, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Dayton called the bill "divisive, and destructive" in his veto letter to state senate president Michelle Fischbach. He also said that even though his veto would not prevent the ballot initiative from moving forward, he was exercising his legal duty to either sign or veto the proposal because it came to him in the form of a legislative bill.

"Without question, I am vetoing it; and I urge Minnesotans to reject this mean-spirited, divisive, un-Minnesotan and un-American amendment," he said.

Dayton also pledged to reporters that he would campaign to defeat the ballot initiative next year.