From owner-glb-news%BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU Sun Apr 4 08:12:29 1993 Received: from brownvm.brown.edu by halcyon.com with SMTP id AA01869 (5.65c/IDA-1.4.4 for tomh); Sun, 4 Apr 1993 08:12:17 -0700 Message-Id: <199304041512.AA01869@halcyon.com> Received: from BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU by BROWNVM.brown.edu (IBM VM SMTP V2R2) with BSMTP id 9519; Sun, 04 Apr 93 11:07:53 EDT Received: from BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU (NJE origin LISTSERV@BROWNVM) by BROWNVM.BROWN0 Date: Sun, 4 Apr 1993 11:07:46 EDT Reply-To: Information Repository for News of Interest to GLB* Folk Sender: Information Repository for News of Interest to GLB* Folk From: Ron Buckmire Subject: MINNESOTA becomes *EIGHTH* State with GLB Equal Rights Law To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Status: R "Carlson signs gay-rights bill into law", by Donna Halvorsen Minneapolis Star-Tribune, 3 April 1993, p. 2B Gov. Arne Carlson signed into law Friday a bill that makes it illegal to discriminate against gays and lesbians in employment, housing and other areas. The law, which will take effect Aug. 1, adds to the state Human Rights Act a provision against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The act already prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, age, disability, and several other factors. Minnesota follows seven other states and the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in extending civil rights to gays and lesbians. The Independent- Republican governor signed the bill without fanfare yesterday, delivering a one-sentence statement to the new media afterward. He said he intended to sign the bill not "because I enjoy tremendous popularity on the issue" but because it is "the right thing to do". His support for gay rights has rankled conservative members of his party and could hurt him if he seeks IR endorsement for a second term next year, state party Chairman Bob Weinholzer said yesterday. The state has estimated that 85 complaints a year will be filed under the law, increasing the caseload of the Human Rights Department by about 5 percent. A total of 1,441 complaints was filed last year. If allegations are found to be valid but cannot be resolved through negotiation, they are turned over to the attorney general's office for legal action. If gays and lesbians follow the experience of other groups, their complaints will largely be about discrimination in employment, which accounts for 75 percent of the complaints files with the department. The bill was fiercely fought, primarily by conservative religious groups, and the final votes against it were stronger than its proponents had expected: 78-53 in the House and 37-30 in the Senate. The House last voted on the bill in 1975, the Senate in 1977. Sen. Allan Spear and Rep. Karen Clark, Minneapolis DFLers who sponsored the bill, attributed the victory to changing times, a strong campaign by an organization called It's Time Minnesota, the pro-gay-rights stance of the Clinton administration and the support of an IR governor. Clark also credited new suburban legislators, who, she said, were "in tune" with the issue. Advocates amassed widespread support from mainstream churches, labor unions and business organizations. Senate Minority Leader Dean Johnson, IR-Willmar, who made an impassioned floor speech in favor of the bill on the floor of the Senate before that body's first vote, was censured for his vote by thge IR party in Kandiyohi County at its county convention Saturday. Since the censure vote, Johnson said, he has received 10 supportive letters and phone calls to every one in opposition. "My vote was a vote to end discrimination", he said. "It was not an endorsement of a lifestyle". Opponents of the bill said it would discriminate against heterosexuals, promote unhealthy lifestyles, undermine family values and sanction pedophilia, pornography, and harassment by gays. Although proponents said the bill would simply extend basic civil rights to gays and lesbians, they agreed to add wording specifying that it would not allow the teaching of homosexuality in schools, the recognition of same-sex marriages or affirmative action quotas. Exemptions added in the House would allow gays and lesbians to be discriminated against in employment, housing and use of facilities if those things are connected to religious organizations or church-run schools; as employees and volunteers of organizations such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts and Big Brothers that provide friends, counselors or role models to youth, and in the rental of owner-occupied duplexes and rooms in single-family homes. ---------------------------------------- Rick Miller Carleton College Northfield, Minnesota rmiller@carleton.edu --- RON BUCKMIRE, 11 Colvin Circle, Troy, NY 12180-3735. ``BOYCOTT COLORADO!'' vox:(518)-276-8910 fax:(518)-276-6920 buckmr@rpi.edu buckmr@rpitsmts.bitnet 0.5% of the U.S. population owns 48.4% of the assets. 1% owns 61.8% and 10% owns 91.7%. -- Source: Arthur B. Kennickell,_ Demographics & Household Savings_