High Court Decision on Gay Marriage Welcome for Former St. Joseph Mayor

ST. PAUL (AP) - The Supreme Court's sweeping decision to make gay marriage legal nationwide is a bittersweet victory for Richard Carlbom.

Carlbom led efforts to defeat a Minnesota gay marriage ban in 2012. Then he led the push to legalize it in 2013 before becoming director of state campaigns for Freedom to Marry.

Carlbom is also the former mayor of St. Joseph, and a graduate of St. John's University.

Carlbom says he probably has three months to wind down his work. He says it's wonderful when a nonprofit has to go out of business this way.

Carlbom, who is gay, married his partner two years ago. He says he's had to deal with uncertainty while traveling in places where his marriage wasn't recognized. He says the court's action today wipes away that issue.