Thomson Reuters opposes Minn. marriage ban

MINNEAPOLIS — Publishing giant Thomson Reuters says its opposition to the proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in Minnesota is a “business decision.”

Mike Suchsland, president of Thomson Reuters Legal, and Rick King, COO, Technology, the company’s two highest-ranking Minnesota-based executives, explained their opposition to the amendment in an email to the Minnesota-based staff, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

“We believe the Minnesota Marriage Amendment, if passed, would limit our ability to recruit and retain top talent,” the e-mail said. “For this reason, we do not believe that the Amendment would be good for Thomson Reuters or the business community in the state.”

Minnesota already bars same-sex marriage in law, but is one of four states where November ballot measures will decide the fate of various same-sex marriage related bills, when voters there will decide whether to encode the ban in the state Constitution. In Washington, Maine and Maryland, voters will decide whether to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples.