ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Gov. Mark Dayton is attending the first public fundraiser held by groups that want to defeat a gay marriage amendment to the Minnesota Constitution.

The Democratic governor is scheduled to speak briefly at the Monday evening fundraiser sponsored by the group “Minnesotans United for All Families” at a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. There’s no set donation but organizers are asking people to give generously.

Last month state lawmakers put the definition of marriage in the state constitution on the November 2012 ballot. Voters will be asked if it the constitution should be amended to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples only.

Dayton has been highly critical of the amendment, saying it discriminates against gays and lesbians. He vowed to actively campaign against it.

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