Minnesota Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill that would have granted same-sex couples the same end-of-life rights as married couples, the Citypages in Minnesota is reporting.
The bill, which passed both the House and Senate last week, would have granted gay partners the authority to decide how to dispose of their loved one's remains, and they would also have the right to file wrongful death suits on behalf of a partner.
"T-Paw" defended his decision by pointing out that gay people can give their partners rights over their remains in their wills. Something that married couples do not need to do once they are legally married in the state.
Pawlenty said in a statement, "Marriage, defined as between a man and woman, should remain elevated in our society at a special level, as it traditionally has been. I oppose efforts to treat domestic relationships as the equivalent of traditional marriage. Accordingly, I am opposed to this bill."
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