Gay-Marriage Opponents Raising Money in Minn.

An antigay coalition pushing for a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage in Minnesota has begun raising funds for what will likely be an expensive campaign on both sides.

The Associated Press reports that the group Minnesota for Marriage, which includes the social conservative group Minnesota Family Council and the Minnesota Catholic Conference, filed last week with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to begin raising campaign funds.

Minnesotans United for All Families, a newly formed coalition of pro-marriage equality groups, is already accepting donations via its website.

Minnesota state law prohibits marriage for gay and lesbian couples. But it's one of several states that does not have a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. The Minnesota legislature agreed last month to let a ballot measure for such an amendment go before voters in the November 2012 election.

Read the AP story here.