(Video) West Metro Legislators Condemn Marriage Amendment

Rep. Steve Simon (DFL-District 44A) failed to convince a House committee on Monday not to pass a proposal that could enshrine a gay marriage ban in the state Constitution.

The House Civil Law Committee voted 10-7 to approve a plan that would allow Minnesotans to vote on a constitutional amendment that would define marriage exclusively as between a man and a woman.

If passed, residents would vote on the proposal during the 2012 election.

Simon, whose district includes Hopkins and St. Louis Park, criticized the proposal for injecting religious beliefs into the Constitution—and asked his opponents to ponder the moral force of their argument.

"How many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?" he asked.

Simon’s comments echo those of Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-District 44), who challenged the amendment April 29 in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee. Latz warned committee members to “be afraid of the tyranny of the majority.”