The past two sessions of the Minnesota Legislature have brought resolution to two very hard fought battles: marriage equality and safe schools, but some important bills and issues either weren’t heard or failed to pass.

Marriage equality
Following the defeat of the anti-gay marriage amendment in Nov. 2012, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill to legalize marriage between same-sex couples. Gov. Dayton signed it into law in May 2013.

Safe Schools
The Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act replaced Minnesota’s laws on school bullying — which stood at 37 words — and expanded protections for all students. The new law, which passed in April 2014, explicitly prohibits bullying based on sexual orientation, along with 17 other characteristics.

The safe schools bill was blocked by Republicans in the 2013 session, and during that summer, a coalition of Tea Party groups, religious right organizations, and Republican lawmakers engaged in a misinformation campaign in an unsuccessful attempt to derail the legislation. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton in early April.

(See TheColu.mn’s reporting on the safe schools bill)

Economics
The Minnesota Legislature also approved two pieces of legislation aimed at improving the economic lives of Minnesotans, including members of the LGBT community.

Despite the myth of an affluent LGBT community, TheColu.mn reviewed demographic data and found that LGBT Minnesotans lag behind the general population on key economic indicators.

The Minnesota Legislature passed an increased minimum wage indexed to inflation in 2014.

OutFront Minnesota, in a legislative wrap-up noted: “Raising the minimum wages will also benefit LGBT individuals and families who, along with many members of the general population, struggle with economic stability.”

Another key economic reform passed by legislators was a law aimed at closing the gender gap.

As OutFront notes, “The passage of the Women’s Economic Security Act will improve the lives of LGBT households, particularly those headed by females.”

While there were positive strides made for LGBT equality during the biennium, several issues weren’t heard.

Ex-gay ban
A bill to ban “reparative” or “ex-gay” therapy for minors did not get a hearing in committee after pressure by conservative Christians to block the bill.

(See TheColu.mn’s coverage on “ex-gay” therapy)

Sodomy laws
Even though the 2014 legislative session was billed as an “unsession” where outdated and obsolete laws were removed from state statutes, Minnesota’s sodomy law, used for decades to harass and imprison members of the LGBT community, remains on the books.

Parity in health care for transgender Minnesotans
Though efforts were made in the 2013 session to remove discriminatory language from state subsidized health care which prevents transgender Minnesotans from receiving necessary medical care, those efforts failed.