Rep. John Kriesel, R-Cottage Grove, told Politics in Minnesota on Thursday that he has joined the steering committee of Minnesotans United for All Families, a coalition of labor, business and religious organizations that opposes a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Kriesel is one of a handful of Republican elected officials who oppose the amendment.

“I plan on being actively involved as much as I possibly can,” Kriesel told PIM.

Kriesel was one of the most outspoken members of the Legislature during the debate on the marriage amendment; the measure ultimately passed last May. Kriesel voted “no” on the amendment along with three fellow Republican House members.

Earlier this summer he spoke at an event sponsored by Republicans Against the Minnesota Marriage Amendment.

Kriesel is in his first term in the Minnesota House, winning the district that was previous held by the DFL. Prior to that, Kriesel was stationed in Iraq where an attack took both of his legs.