Straight Republican Pleads for Gay Marriage

A 24-year-old straight Republican woman says that fighting equal rights, specifically marriage equality, is the wrong direction for her party, her state, and her country.

Madeline Koch testified to the Minnesota senate Friday, arguing that the bill being considered that would constitutionally ban gay and lesbian couples from marrying goes too far and counters the sentiment of most young Republicans. Koch said that she had no ties to gay people before she started working on promoting equal rights three years ago.

"You'd think that as a Republican, I would be on the other side of this issue, but I'm here today because I don't believe that equal rights for same-sex couples, or anyone, is a partisan issue," she said.

The senate passed the bill last week, and the Minnesota house civil law committee approved the move to fast-track the proposition to the ballot in 2012. Democratic governor Mark Dayton opposes the effort but holds no veto power.

Watch her testimony below: