Wis. city council member calls Pride parade ‘deviant’

At a Wausau, Wis., city council meeting on Tuesday night, council member David Nutting used the public comment portion of the meeting to condemn the city’s first LGBT pride parade to be held on June 22. The parade is independent from the Heart of Wisconsin Pride held in August in Wausau.

Nutting called the event a “parade of deviant behaving individuals,” and suggested that parade participants were going to engage in “indecent behavior.” He called on his fellow city council members to pass ordinances against “public indecency as will no doubt be on display in this parade.”

He then read from Romans 1:18-23, an oft-cited Christian Bible passage that suggests that homosexuals are “deserving of death.” Perhaps looking to curtail controversy, Nutting dropped the very last part of the lengthy Bible verse he quoted which contains the reference to death. … Continue Reading

Out Twin Cities Film Festival begins on Wednesday

This year’s Out Twin Cities Film Festival begins on Wednesday night. In its third year, 2013 promises to be more than just a screening of LGBT films with high profile panelists, entertainment, and engaging themes.

Opening Night kicks off Wednesday, May 29, with a gala at the Graves Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The theme is “Ally Appreciation & Visibility In Media” and will feature former Minnesota Viking Chris Kluwe, comedian Ian Harvie, WCCO news anchor Edward Moody, and Shannon Blowtorch as DJ.

Starting at 6pm with a screening of “Break Through,” a documentary of the bullying and suicide of college student Tyler Clementi, the evening then progresses to a panel discussion with director Aaron Hosé, cast member Gabrielle Shulruff, and anti-bullying and LGBT youth advocate Tammy Aaberg.

The evening then heads to a social hour followed by speakers including Kluwe. The Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus will perform at a silent auction benefiting PFund. The night concludes with a dance party with DJ Shannon Blowtorch.

On Thursday night, the festival moves to the St. Anthony Main Theatre where the theme is “Gender Fluidity Is A Splendid Thing!” sponsored by the Smitten Kitten. The night will feature 8 films and presentations on transgender and gender-nonconforming issues.

Friday night is “Ladies’ Night Out!” starting at 5pm with a series of films ranging from American Superheroines to queer women in sports to political themes.

“Boys’ Night Out!” on Saturday will feature some risque gay fare with many of the films restricted to attendees 18 years and older (they will be checking IDs!). A good example is James Franco’s Interior. Leather Bar, a film about the process of recreating the mythical lost 40 minutes of sex scenes from the 1980 gay thriller Cruising starring Al Pacino.

“A Divine Sunday” on June 2 will feature a range of films from a documentary about Superior, Wisconsin’s iconic Main Club, a retrospective on Vito Russo’s life, a documentary about legendary drag queen Divine, and film about Uganda’s “kill the gays” bill.

Congrats to organizers and participants! Tickets and event information is available at www.outtwincitiesfilmfest.com.

Minnesota’s religious right apocalyptic as Minnesota passes marriage equality

The Minnesota Legislature passed marriage equality earlier this week and on Tuesday, Gov. Mark Dayton signed the measure into law. Starting August 1, same-sex couples will have the right to legally marry in the North Star State. While the push for marriage equality has brought out the best in many Minnesotans, among the religious right, the rhetoric bordered on bizarre. … Continue Reading

House to vote on marriage equality tomorrow; vote count looks close

Updated 8:58pm, May 8: Rep. Andrew Falk sent a letter to constituents saying he will be voting the the marriage equality bill. Rep. Clark Johnson is telling constituents that he supports the bill.

With a vote scheduled in the House on Thursday, DFL leadership must think it has the votes to pass marriage equality. There are still a lot of unknowns among the DFL caucus as many have not gone on record on how they may vote — and that may be important political calculus for some. By not announcing in public but telling leadership in private that they are voting for the bill, they don’t risk the wrath of Minnesota for Marriage which is already sending out flier in tough districts.

Marriage equality advocates need 68 votes to pass the marriage equality bill. According to our count, they have about 57 “for sure” votes, so ten more need to turn in order for the bill to pass.

New yes votes

Previously undeclared, Rep. Mike Sundin told the Pioneer Press he will vote for the bill. In addition, a Politics in Minnesota survey of lobbyists on the issue found him leaning in the yes column.

Rep. Shannon Savich told the Pioneer Press she will vote for the bill.

Rep. Joe Radinovich has also said he is undecided. But Capitol press sources were saying on Friday that he will be voting for the bill. The Pioneer Press asked him about it and he said he is leaning yes.

Rep. Tim Faust has repeatedly said he is on the fence, but leaning toward voting for marriage equality. He was endorsed by OutFront Minnesota Action in 2012. (update: as of Monday, Faust is a solid yes).

These are included in the above count.

The Leaners

Marriage equality advocates are going to need to convince these five to go further in the direction they seem to be heading.

Rep. David Dill has not made his position on the bill known. In addition, a Politics in Minnesota survey of lobbyists on the issue found him leaning in the yes column.

Though he spoke eloquently against the marriage amendment, Rep. John Ward has told reporters that he is undecided. In addition, a Politics in Minnesota survey of lobbyists on the issue found him leaning in the yes column.

(Update: Falk is now a supporter) Rep. Andrew Falk is on the fence but appears to be leaning toward support the bill. Minnesota for Marriage recently posted about him. “Despite the fact that his district OVERWHELMINGLY supports traditional marriage, Rep. Falk is considering standing with same-sex “marriage” lobbyists instead of his constituents and voting for the same-sex “marriage” bill!” In addition, a Politics in Minnesota survey of lobbyists on the issue found him leaning in the yes column.

Rep. Jeane Poppe seems like a likely supporter. She told the Austin Daily Herald that she’s “open to gay marriage” but wants to hear from her constituents first. She told the Pioneer Press that she is undeclared.

Rep. Yvonne Selcer was outfront endorsed in 2012 so she should be seen as a strong leaner. But hasn’t gone on the record that we can tell.

With these six, marriage equality will still need 6 more votes to get to 68. And that’s if these six vote how we think they will.

The undecideds

Rep. Roger Erickson recently said he was undecided. Still, he was endorsed by OutFront Minnesota Action in 2012. He told the Pioneer Press that he is undeclared.

Rep. Mary Murphy told media that she is undecided.

Rep. Ben Lien hasn’t made his position known.

Rep. John Persell is willing to go for civil unions but has not committed on the marriage equality bill.

Rep. Jay McNamar told the Star Tribune that for him, this is a very hard decision and he is undecided. He told the Pioneer Press that he is undeclared.

Rep. Kim Norton said she is not sure how she would vote on gay marriage bill, and has told reporters that she would have a hard time voting “against civil rights of an indiv.” She is sponsor of civil unions legislation.

Rep. Paul Marquart said at a townhall that he is undecided. In addition, a Politics in Minnesota survey of lobbyists on the issue found him leaning in the yes column. He told the Pioneer Press that he is undeclared.

Rep. Gene Pelowski is undecided according to Politics in Minnesota.

The unknowns

Republican Rep. Marion O’Neill hasn’t made her position known but she got her Masters at Regent University which was founded by Pat Robertson. We’d hate to say we are wrong by putting her in the no column, but her vote for marriage equality seems very unlikely.

Several DFLers also haven’t gone on the record.

In a Greater Minnesota district that defeated the anti-gay marriage amendment with only 47 percent support, Rep. Clark Johnson of North Mankato is newly elected and hasn’t stated a position on the bill. (update: Johnson is telling constituents that he is voting for the bill).

Neither has Rep. Michael Nelson of Brooklyn Park. His district rejected the amendment in a squeaker with 49.3 percent support.

Rep. Ann Lenczewski of Bloomington hasn’t announced which way she will vote and on OutFront Minnesota Action’s scorecards in the past, she’s voted with the LGBT community 50 percent of the time (but that was back in 2007 and 2008). Only 43.5 percent of her district voted for the anti-gay marriage amendment.

Rep. Sandra A. Masin is from Eagan an only 42 percent voted for the amendment. She hasn’t taken a public stance on the bill that we could find.

Rep. Will Morgan of Burnsville has not made his position on the bill publicly known. His district defeated the amendment with only 45 percent support.

DFLers voting no

Rep. Patti Fritz, whose position was previously unknown, told the Pioneer Press she will be voting no.

Rep. Mary Sawatzky may be a “no” vote on the bill. She recently told the Star Tribune, “I am elected to listen to my constituents, and what they are consistently telling me is that marriage is a union between one man and one woman.” She also told the Pioneer Press she will be voting no.

A GOP leaner?

Rep. Jenifer Loon did not vote in the House Ways and Means Committee on Monday saying that her constituent survey showed her district supported marriage equality. She could be a Republican vote for the bill. She is currently undecided.

Handicapping gay marriage in the Senate

A little over half a dozen Minnesota Senators hold the votes that are key to passing marriage equality in Minnesota. Thirty four votes are needed to pass the bill, and the there’s likely 31 votes in support. If the DFLers and one Republican who have indicated support for marriage equality do indeed vote for the bill, and three undecideds end up voting yes, the bill will pass. Here are some of the holdouts and leaners:

Sen. Rod Skoe, a DFLer, represents the district running from the Northwest Angle through Red Lake to Detroit Lakes. He has consistently said he is undecided on the issue. The marriage amendment passed in his district with 63 percent of the vote. He voted on the Senate floor in opposition to sending the bill back to committee, considered by some to be a vote in favor of marriage equality. He said he did not view the vote that way.

Sen. Tom Saxhaug, a DFLer who represents the area running from Bemidji to Grand Rapids south to just north of Brainerd. He says he is “sympathetic” about gay marriage but want to wait to see how the Supreme Court will rule.

“By then we’ll know where the Supreme Court falls on this question,” Saxhaug said. “For us to just stick our necks out without knowing which way the federal government’s going makes it tough.”

55 percent of his district voted for the marriage amendment. Because he is sympathetic and the vote will likely come in the next few weeks, he’s in the lean yes category.

And Minnesota for Marriage seems to think he will vote yes.

Sen. David Tomassoni, a DFLer representing the central portion of the Iron Range, hasn’t made his stance clear repeatedly saying that the budget should take priority over marriage equality. His district voted 53 percent.

Sen. Matt Schmidt, a DFLer representing a southeastern Minnesota district running the Mississippi from Red Wing to Winona, hasn’t made his position known. 55 percent of his district voted for the marriage amendment. Marriage equality opponents have sent out mailers targeting him. (update: Schmidt told TPT’s Almanac last Friday that he is voting for the bill)

DFL Sen. Dan Sparks represents the district along the Iowa border from Albert Lea to Austin, hasn’t made his position known. His district voted for the amendment with 59 percent.

DFL Sen. Alice Johnson, who was endorsed by OutFront Action in 2012, hasn’t made any public statements about the marriage equality bill. Her district, which covers Blaine and Spring Lake Park, defeated the amendment at 48 percent support. With those data points, it’s likely she will support the bill.

DFLer Sen. Bev Scalze’s district defeated the amendment with 44 percent support. It runs from Mounds View to Shoreview to Vadnais Heights. In the past, she’s rated at about 50 percent on LGBT rights scorecards, so she will be one to watch. She has not made her position on the marriage equality bill publicly known.

None returned our request for which way they planned to vote.

On the Republican side, Sen. David Senjem of northern Rochester, says he is undecided.

“I am just going to wait until that magic moment and make that decision in a pretty spontaneous way,” he told the Rochester Post Bulletin. If he had to vote today, he would vote no, but thinks he could change his mind.

Minnesota lawmakers introduce “Civil Unions for All” bill

Minnesota lawmakers introduced a bill on Thursday that would repeal the state’s Defense of Marriage Act and replace all instances of the word “marriage” in Minnesota statutes with “civil union.” In effect, the bill would create civil unions for all Minnesotans, both opposite-sex and same-sex couples, and leave marriage to religious and secular ceremonies.

The bill essentially erases “marriage” from Minnesota statutes:

Wherever the term “marriage,” “marital,” “marry,” or “married” is used in Minnesota 1statute in reference to the rights, obligations, or privileges of a couple under law, the term shall include a civil union contract, or individuals subject to a civil union contract, as established by this chapter. A term subject to this definition must also be interpreted in reference to the context in which it appears, but may not be interpreted to limit or exclude any individual who has entered a valid civil union contract under this chapter.

And would alert the federal government that a “civil union” is the same as “marriage” for legal purposes:

To the extent that the term “marriage” is given legal effect in federal law or the law of another jurisdiction, a Minnesota civil union is the equivalent of a marriage and individuals who have entered into a civil union contract shall be treated as “spouses” or shall be treated as “husband” and “wife” for purposes of application to those laws.

The bill was filed by Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Red Wing), Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester), Andrea Keiffer (R-Woodbury), and Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington).

Marriage debate, 5 weeks left: Week in review

Four Minnesota political parties advocate for gay marriage: Greens, Libertarians, Independence and DFL.

Minnesota business leaders took out full page ads in metro newspapers.

In the Duluth News Tribune, Tim G. Riley has some words for marriage equality supporters in “Changing marriage is against the laws of nature”:”Redefining marriage has an outrageous next step, but it’s not the last. There’s outcry!
The Bible reads, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, I will go down and see.”

In the Brainerd Dispatch, the Rev. Glenn Evans Derby writes in “Gay marriage: A matter of religious freedom”:

“Securing the freedom to marry in 2013 is a matter of religious freedom. Churches and clergy members should have the freedom to decide for themselves who to marry — and which relationships to celebrate. No church will ever be forced to perform a marriage that is not in accordance with it doctrine, but all churches should have the freedom to marry same-sex couples if they choose. In 2013, we can ensure they have that freedom.”

An editorial by the Spring Grove Herald by publisher David Phillips, says “Time for Minnesota to stop marginalizing gay couples”:

“The difference with a change in the marriage status will be that gay people won’t be treated as second-class citizens. They won’t be denied the ability to take care of family issues, health care directives and other rights most of us take for granted.

It’s time for Minnesota to join our neighbor to the south – Iowa, where little has changed for the worse in society since same-sex marriage was made legal four years ago – and other states that have opened the doors to gay couples.

I realize this stance has the potential to put me back on the margin of rural society. However, that’s my choice and I know I’m fortunate to have that choice. However, I also feel the need to speak out for those decent, loving citizens that remain marginalized through no choice of their own.”

Good As You’s Jeremy Hooper notices someone interesting plastered on the side of Minnesota for Marriage’s tour bus.

CityPages catches Rev. Jerry McAfee, a lead pastor in support of the failed marriage amendment, posting some unkind things on Facebook: “The most hateful and bigoted people I know are gay”

In the Winona Daily News, John Rupkey wrote two open letters to his representatives in the Minnesota Legislature.

To Sen. Miller, he writes:

“When I was your age, I didn’t know even one other gay person on earth. If I would have admitted to being gay back then, I could have been sent off to a mental institution for reprogramming.

I can imagine there must be some conflict going on within you on this issue now that gay people have liberated their voices in our time and are asking for understanding and justice. With your vote, you can extend to the gay people in Minnesota an invitation to join with you in living the Great American Dream.”

To Rep. Pelowski, he writes:

“I believe that in your heart you are supportive of us gay people who are seeking to have our right to civil marriage recognized in Minnesota.

I also understand that it is sometimes difficult for a catholic who is supportive of gay people to express what is in his heart on this issue because of the unfortunate involvement of the Roman Catholic hierarchy under Pope Benedict.

But I believe it is important for devoted Catholic lay persons in America to help improve the understanding of the Roman hierarchy. As you no doubt know well, sometimes a teacher’s understanding is best improved by the persons he is charged with teaching.

All I ask is that you vote with your heart.”

Minnesotans United for All Families released a new add on Tuesday:

In the Alexandria Echo Press, Pastor David Wallin wrote a letter titled, “Marriage should not be redefined”:

“Marriage is not like the “man-made” laws, rules, traditions, etc. that our representatives have a delegated authority to modify or even eliminate as they follow their conscience and act in the best interests of their constituents and the state/nation as a whole. The origin of marriage is not a smoke-filled committee room or even a hallowed place like Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Marriage between one man and one woman has its origins from the Word of God (see Genesis 2:24), the same book that continues to be the foundation for the laws of our country and state.”

Minnesota Republicans offer Student Religious Liberties Act

Minnesota House Republicans offered a bill (HF1771) this week that would allow public school students to wear religious themed clothing, lead prayer before, during and after school, organize religious groups, and allow students to use any public forum at extracurricular events such as graduation to preach religious messaging. The bill is identical to one that became law in Mississippi earlier this year.

The bill states:

A public school district shall not discriminate against students or parents on the basis of a religious viewpoint or religious expression. A school district shall treat a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the district treats a student’s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject and may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject.

And:

Students in public schools may wear clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display religious messages or religious symbols in the same manner and to the same extent that other types of clothing, accessories, and jewelry that display messages or symbols are permitted.

The bill also requires schools to set up a “limited public forum” at school events such as sports events and graduation ceremonies for students to conduct religious activities.

Despite the insinuation made by the bill, students currently have a constitutional right to pray in school.

The bill comes as the Minnesota Legislature debates an anti-bullying bill that anti-gay activists say is an attempt to foist the homosexual agenda into schools.

Katherine Kersten, a fellow at the conservative Center for the American Experiment noted, “H.F. 826’s over-reaching nature makes clear that its goal goes beyond stopping bad behavior. It would use the machinery of state education to compel children to adopt politically correct attitudes on subjects like sexuality, “gender identity” and alternative family structures.”

The Roman Catholic Church in Minnesota is also organizing opposition to the anti-bullying bill for fear it will impinge on church teachings:

The proposed law singles out certain “protected classes” of students—including sexual orientation and “gender identity and expression”—for special attention and favored treatment. In fact, some victims of bullying may receive no special protection from the legislation.

It also undermines traditional social and ethical norms (e.g. the beliefs of Catholics) related to gender and sexuality, infringing upon the rights of parents as first educators of their children.

In debates in other states, religious freedom has been used to kill LGBT inclusive anti-bullying measures.

The bill was introduced by: Duane Quam of Byron; Debra Kiel of Crookston; Kelby Woodard of Belle Plaine; Anna Wills of Apple Valley; Rod Hamilton of Mountain Lake; John Petersburg of Waseca; Glenn Gruenhagen of Glencoe; Joyce Peppin of Rogers; Sondra Erickson of Princeton; Mary Liz Holberg of Lakeville; Mark Uglem of Champlin; Mike Benson of Rochester; Marion O’Neill of Buffalo; Cindy Pugh of Chanhassan; Peggy Scott of Andover; Ernie Leidiger of Mayer; Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa; Linda Runbeck of Circle Pines; Jim Abeler of Anoka; Kathy Lohmer of Stillwater; Bob Dettmer of Forest Lake; Jim Newberger of Becker; and Mary Franson of Alexandria.

Bachmann to attend anti-gay, conspiracy conference with Bradlee Dean

Rep. Michele Bachmann is scheduled to attend the Awakening 2013 conference in Oviedo, Fla., on Friday and Saturday. The conference will include speeches from several anti-gay activists including Bradlee Dean, Mat Staver, Matt Barber, Judith Reisman and Harry Jackson. The conference will also include speakers who think that Sandy Hook was a government conspiracy, that Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for homosexuality, that AIDS is God’s punishment for homosexuality, and at least one speaker who has suggested that President Obama is a communist Russian spy.

People for the American Way is calling on Bachmann to cancel her appearance at the conference. Scott Foval, Regional Political Coordinator for the organization said, “It is completely inappropriate for a member of Congress to speak at and legitimize an event like this. Rep. Bachmann should reconsider her decision to attend.”

People for the American Way have created a list documenting the controversial statements and action of the speakers at the conference.

The conferences full title is “The Awakening 2013: Fighting for the Soul of America,” and Bachmann has appeared at the conference in 2011 and 2012.

She won the group’s presidential straw poll in 2011.

Topics this year will include:
Radical Islam: Stealth Jihad Against America and Western Civilization
The LGBTQ (QIAAP) Agenda: Ground Zero in the Culture War
Families Under Attack: Pornography & Sexual Promiscuity and How to Fight Back

Brooklyn Park mega-church to host ex-gay women’s conference

Living Word Christian Center, the Brooklyn Park home to local televangelist Mac Hammond, is hosting the “Power of Change Women’s Conference” on March 14 and 15. The event is led by Janet Boynes, a Minnesota author who’s book on becoming an “ex-lesbian” has been promoted by Rep. Michele Bachmann’s christian counseling clinic.

The event is being promoted by the Minnesota Family Council, one of the main financial backers of the failed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.

Boynes book, Called Out – A Former Lesbian’s Discovery of Freedom, serves as the mission statement for her ministry. But, as Truth Wins Out founder Wayne Besen pointed out, Boynes’ story doesn’t add up:

One does not even have to crack the cover of Boynes’ book to find misinformation. From the get-go Boynes falsely identifies herself as a lesbian, when she is very clearly bisexual. One does not have to be a sexologist at the Kinsey Institute to understand that the definition of a lesbian is a woman attracted to the same sex, while not attracted to the opposite sex. Meanwhile, a bisexual is attracted to both men and women. Clearly, Boynes fits the latter and flat-out says in her book, “I was not born homosexual. I made a decision.” (p.131)

In fact, Boynes’ attraction to the opposite sex appears to emerge during puberty prior to any signs of lesbianism. According to Boynes:

I was interested in boys, as most little girls are, but my masculine features and the fact that I beat them up kept most of the boys away from me. I had crushes on boys…I set my sights on boys at least two years younger than me and we snuck into the hallway to make out and smoke. (p. 6)

An unmistakable pattern of bisexuality is a constant throughout much of Boynes’ life. Based on her stated desire for men, it appears her hetero feelings denote a genuine sexual orientation rather than simply a lesbian engaged in situational heterosexual behavior. For example, on page 15 of Called Out, Boynes begins a relationship with a male dealer named Donald, “who provided me with all the attention and drugs that I wanted.”

There is much, much more at Truth Wins Out.

Boynes event will be held at Living Word Christian Center in mid-March, a church with a long history in the ex-gay movement.

Living Word is a longtime affiliate of Exodus International, an ex-gay group, and Boynes is the church’s contact person for Exodus.

The conference treats being lesbian as a disease.

“If you are struggling with [same-sex attraction], or have a friend or family member who is, get ready for a weekend that will change your life and give you the tools to walk in your deliverance.”

Also taking part in the conference is Anne Paulk. Paulk and her husband John have been doing the ex-gay circuit for decades. TWO outed John at a gay bar in 2000 and outed him again in December of last year. According to the article, John and Anne have separated and Anne continues to work with Restored Hope, a national ex-gay movement. Also speaking will be Nate Oyloe, who in 2009, tried to convince the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to engage in “ex-gay therapy.”

On KKMS’ On the Way with Ridgeway, Boynes said the LGBT movement is not about civil rights and that LGBT people do not get beaten or killed.

They are saying now that homosexuality is the new civil rights issue or could I say the new black.
Those who say homosexuality is not a choice and believe homosexuals are born that way as we all know there is no scientific authority to base that on. There’s no gay gene. The color of my skin is an immutable and unchangeable characteristic. I cannot change from black to white, but I did change from gay to straight and thousands of us out there have done so. and you think about the civil rights movement. I think it’s a slap in the face to those who have been back in that time who couldn’t ride on buses, who couldn’t sit in restaurants who couldn’t drink from water fountains. That’s not happening in the gay community right now, so you really can’t even compare the two, They are not getting beat to death, they are not getting hung from trees, and a lot of things that happen out there that they are saying is because of homosexuality, that is really not the case.

She added, “I believe the gay community’s goal is to indoctrinate our kids.”

Here’s the audio of that interview:

Janet Boynes Ministries includes some notable figures including Barb Anderson, who has been a researcher for the Minnesota Family Council and helped found the Parents Action League in the Anoka-Hennepin School District. PAL has been labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Boynes has gotten positive reviews from Minnesota notables such as Pastor Mac Hammond and Rep. Michele Bachmann, as well as national figures including Gary Bauer and Tony Perkins.