MANKATO — In a room of about 50 LGBT community members and allies at a work session Monday night, the Mankato City Council debated whether to weigh in on the upcoming gay marriage amendment.

With the council split four to three in favor of holding a public forum to hear viewpoints of community members, Mankato lesbian and gay residents holding rainbow flags and gay rights signs listened quietly and at times erupted into applause. Many left pleased when the council decided to put on the July 9 City Council agenda an official vote on whether to hold a public forum on the heavily debated proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

Councilman Mike Laven was heavily supportive of holding a forum, stating the written vision and values of the City Council, which is to serve the greater good of the community, to be neighborly, and to show concern and compassion for others, among other things.

“(These are) three of our values I think speak to the idea that this issue falls into the realm of City Council,” Laven said. “I would be very comfortable putting together a public forum to allow folks who feel passionate about this issue to bring it forward.”

Mayor Eric Anderson said the amendment is a “ballot issue,” not a city issue, and that the council is elected to act on city issues alone. Councilman Charlie Hurd agreed, saying the City Council is a nonpartisan group and the gay marriage amendment is a heavily partisan issue.

“I think it’s OK for us to have the discussion regardless of different beliefs,” said Councilwoman Tamra Rovney. “As a city we can take a stance on that, and we can say, ‘We’re an accepting city,’ or we can say, ‘We’re not very accepting as a city.’”

Councilman Jack Considine said the council is the civil rights commission for the city and therefore has good reason to weigh in.

“This would fall into civil rights and the rights of our citizens,” Considine said, a rainbow flag situated next to his water glass. “There’s nothing more germane to the council than the rights of its citizens.”

The council invited audience members to speak, and Jean Lovett of Mankato was the first.

“I have worth and dignity, but (our) culture has told me I don’t. I can’t get married to my partner of 16 years,” Lovett said. “I would die for her if someone threatened her harm. ... I’m very, very invested in this.”

Lovett acknowledged that a public forum on the issue would be “real icky” because people will speak in opposition to gay marriage. “But I’ll be OK ...,” she said. “We’re not going to go away.”

Mankato resident Michael Hruby — who asked the council at a recent meeting to be the 11th city in the state to pass a resolution opposing the amendment — said various other cities have come out as saying the issue is a local one. He said two school boards also passed resolutions opposing the amendment, and General Mills has come out in public opposition as well.

“In 50 years do you want your grandchildren to say, ‘I can’t believe my grandmother/grandfather were so closed-minded’?” Hruby said. “How long do we have to wait to be first-class citizens in this country and not second-class citizens?”

Mankato resident Victor Roth asked the city not to weigh in on the issue, saying it would be wrong for the council to vote on a moral issue. But he did offer his own viewpoint.

“We need to preserve the family unit of father, mother and children today,” Roth said. “Had there been no father or mother, no one would be here today.”

If the council votes July 9 in favor of holding a public hearing, potential dates for the hearing include July 23 or July 30, said City Manager Pat Hentges.