A bill to legalize gay marriage in Minnesota has enough votes to clear one of its first legislative hurdles, over protests from opponents.

Nine of the 17 members of the House Civil Law Committee told the Associated Press that they would be voting for the legislation that repeals the state law defining marriage as between opposite-sex couples only. That would be enough votes for the bill to get through the committee so it could head to the full House.

A federal judge expected to deliver a ruling today that could have invalidated Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage has decided to postpone his ruling, the Detroit News reports:

Federal Judge Bernard Friedman stayed his decision in the matter Thursday so he can wait until the U.S. Supreme Court decides two other federal cases, which will likely be in June.

Two Hall of Fame athletes signed a letter supporting a gay marriage bill on its way to the Illinois House.

Former Chicago Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks and former Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent, along with former Bears Hunter Hillenmeyer and Brendon Ayanbadejo, wrote that the "Illinois General Assembly should act now and give same-sex couples the freedom to marry."

Last spring, after the Lincoln, Nebraska City Council passed a gay rights addition to the city's nondiscrimination ordinance, the Nebraska Family Council and Family First gathered 10,000 signatures to nullify the ordinance.