Twin Cities Pride vs. Minneapolis Park Board, round two

For the second year, Twin Cities Pride and the Minneapolis Park Board are in a tangle over whether Pride can exclude vendors who espouse anti-LGBT views during the Twin Cities LGBT Pride Festival in Loring Park. Pride wants to establish “free speech zones” in the park for anti-gay protesters, but so far Minneapolis Parks has balked at the idea.

Last year, Twin Cities Pride filed an injunction against anti-gay activist Brian Johnson of Hayward, Wis. In 2009, Johnson was arrested by Park Police after Pride organizers asked them to leave. At the time, Johnson’s wife told local media, “We believe [homosexuality] is a sin.” … Continue Reading

Top 10 reasons to attend OutFront’s Lobby Day

There are thousands of reasons to attend OutFront Minnesota’s Lobby Day, but we’ve put together 10 that will hopefully persuade you to take an hour or two on Thursday to make a difference for LGBT equality. Meetings with legislators are all day on Thursday and the rally begins at noon on the Capitol lawn. … Continue Reading

Tribute to Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt, a gay servicemember

The parents of Cpl. Andrew Wilfahrt put together this memorial in honor of his service. Wilfarht was killed in Afghanistan on Feb. 27 in Kandahar province. His parents said that his being gay was the least interesting thing about him, that he often impressed his superiors, and that he was a peaceful man. … Continue Reading

Minnesota Hatewatch: Bradlee Dean, Bryan Fischer say gays were responsible for Holocaust

Radio host and front man for anti-gay ministry You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International hosted Byran Fischer of the American Family Association, a group which has been labeled by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a “hate group.” Dean and Fischer argued the case that “homosexuals” were responsible for the rise of the Nazi party in pre-WWII Germany and, by extension, the Holocaust.

Dean has had close associations with Minnesota politicians including Rep. Michele Bachmann and Fischer hosted former Gov. Tim Pawlenty on his radio show in January.

American people don’t know “the connection between homosexuality and the rise of the Nazi party,” Fischer said. “Hitler himself was a active homosexual… a gay prostitute. ”

“[The homosexuals] were willing to do things that he could not get straight soldiers to do in terms of brutality,” he added. “The myth out there is that the Nazi party persecuted homosexuals and it is true that they did but what they did was went after the effeminate homosexuals.”

Dean added, “I’m going to high five everything you are saying.”

Fischer continued, “You can really say the Nazi party would not have been possible without the homosexuals in the Brownshirts.”

“I’m not saying that the homosexuals are directly responsible for the Holocaust but I think it’s indisputable that there would not have been the Nazi party without the stormtroopers, all of whom were homosexual, and the holocaust would not have happened without the Nazi party, so the dots there are pretty easy to connect.”

Anti-gays infiltrate Creating Change conference?

Have you seen this man? This is Jake MacAuley, aka Jake McMillian and he’s part of the anti-gay You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International ministries, a group that repeatedly calls LGBT people “criminals” and once said that Muslim countries that execute homosexuals were “more moral” than American Christians.

On his radio show on Saturday afternoon, Bradlee Dean said that his sidekick, Jake McMillian, was “playing the spy” presumably on the Creating Change conference. Dean said he’d be reporting on his spying on next weekend’s show.

“The other guy is not with us today,” Dean said. “He’s incognito, he’s playing the spy.”

Dean spent most of his Saturday evening show with Bryan Fischer of the American Family Association trying to blame “homosexuals” for committing the Holocaust.

The group often attends LGBT events in Minnesota, ambushing people with their video cameras and voice recorders and then playing it on their radio program.

Here they are at OutFront’s LGBT Lobby Day at the Capitol in April.

Twin Cities native competing on RuPaul’s Drag Race, premieres tonight

RuPaul’s Drag Race premieres tonight on LOGO and one contestant, Manila Luzon, hails from the Twin Cities. It’s not the first time a Minnesotan has made good on the campy drag queen reality show. In its first season, the show crowned Minneapolis resident Bebe Zahara Benet as America’s Drag Superstar.

In an interview with Seattle’s Gay Scene, Luzon recounts her beginnings as a Minnesota drag queen:

Manila Luzon, where are you from?
I’m half Filipino and half German/Swedish born and raised in the Twin Cities of Minnesota! But the second I graduated from college, I packed my good wig and a pair of stilettos and moved to New York City to become an artist!

When was your first time in drag and what did it feel like?
I honestly cannot remember – I’ve been sneaking into my mother’s and my sister closets on since I was a child! But the first time I became Manila Luzon was the summer I came out in college. I thought, if I’m going to be coming out as gay, I might as well go ALL THE WAY and be a drag queen!!!

Benet, the shows first queen from Minnesota, will host a party for the show in New York on Friday.

Celebrity judges for the upcoming season are Margaret Cho, Eliza Dushku, Carmen Electra, Susan Powter, Amber Rose, Rita Rudner, Sara Rue, Chloë Sevigny, Cheryl Tiegs, Lily Tomlin, Alessandra Torresani, Aisha Tyler, Jody Watley, and Vanessa Williams.

Unfortunately for Twin Citians, there doesn’t appear to be any viewing parties for the show.

Vigil, ‘Tranny Jam’ planned to remember murdered trans woman

A vigil and “Tranny Jam” have been planned to honor and remember Krissy Bates, a Minneapolis transgender woman who was found murdered in her home on Jan. 10. OutFront Minnesota will host a vigil on Friday, Jan. 21 at the MCTC Library in the General Mills Room, and a jam will follow the vigil at the Queer Collective Space on Chicago Ave.

According to OutFront:

Please join us for a vigil Friday, January 21 at 6pm at the MCTC Library (General Mills Room) to honor and remember the life of Krissy Bates, a member of our community whose life was cut short by a terrible act of violence.

Violence threatens all LGBTQ communities, and national reports show that transgender women like Krissy are targeted for violence with terrible frequency. As long as members of our community are singled out for… harassment and violence, our work is unfinished. Please join us in solidarity to raise one united voice to demand an end to this horrible violence.

After a short program at the library we will march to Krissy’s apartment building a few blocks away. Please bring candles, flowers and signs displaying positive messages of hope that our community can embrace to push back the darkness of fear and create a safer city.

Minnesota Trans Health Coalition’s Shot Clinic will be hosting a community event at the Queer Colllective Space at 3405 Chicago after the march.http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=186271414736384 for more information.

We would like to give great thanks to all of Krissy’s friends, our volunteers, and community partners who are uniting in the wake of this week’s terrible events to create these events of remembrance to honor Krissy’s life including: TYSN, Barbara Satin of NGLTF, Spirit of the Lakes, and MCTC.

Event details can be viewed here.

Following the vigil and march will be a jam in remembrance of Bates: “After the vigil our new queer collective is hosting a Tranny Jam. This will be a chance for the community to eat tasty treats, dance, hang out, and enjoy each other.”

Details of that event can be viewed here.

Pfund responded to the murder this week:

“We were shocked to learn of Chrissie Bates’ senseless murder,” says Susan Raffo, PFund executive director. “Our offices are just blocks from where the crime took place. Chrissie is not a nameless victim, she was a member of our community – a living, breathing human being.

“We know violence directed towards transgender people continues to be disproportionately high. At PFund, we are committed to supporting the organizations in our community that work against the roots of this violence while also empowering those most affected. However, this responsibility cannot lie solely at the feet of community organizations. We implore our community members and allies to heighten their efforts in working to end this violence and the environment that lets it grow.”

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Chrissie’s family and friends,” says Lupe Castillo, PFund board president. “May Chrissie rest in peace and may we honor her memory by opposing hatred and violence, including when it is directed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. ”

Big Ten award named after anti-gay former gopher Tony Dungy

The Big Ten conference has named its humanitarian award after former Gopher football player and NFL coach Tony Dungy. Dungy has courted controversy for his support of vehemently anti-gay organizations such as the Indiana Family Institue (akin to the Minnesota Family Council).

Dungy has raised nearly $70,000 for the IFI.

Cyd Zeigler, gay sports writer said of the announcement, “If it was written into a Hollywood script it wouldn’t be believable. A man raises tens of thousands of dollars to fight against civil rights, he says he embraces the fight against civil rights… and he has a humanitarian award named after him.”

Dungy’s history with Minnesota brought him here in 2007 to be honored at the McNamara Alumni Center where the LGBT community protested his appeareance.

Here’s what I wrote in 2007:

Protest organizers from the Queer Student Cultural Center said the silent demonstration at the U was not a protest against Dungy himself. Becky Saltzman, co-chairwoman of the center, said the demonstration was “a statement about the silencing effects groups like the Indiana Family Council and statements like Dungy’s have on our community.” The center presented a petition of nearly 300 signatures to alumni association CEO Margaret Carlson, stating that her group “should honor those who exemplify what it means to be a true ‘Golden Gopher’: one who affirms the dignity of everyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, sex, race, ethnicity, ability, age, class, or religious belief.”

Carlson herself was in front of Mariucci Arena across from the protesters. “The University of Minnesota has 380,000 living alumni of the Twin Cities campus and they have a very diverse set of values and beliefs and we’re inclusive of all of them,” Carlson said. “The alumni association is very inclusive. We have a gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender special interest group, but we really do believe diversity at its best is totally inclusive.”

When asked if the association supported the student protest, Carlson said, “Yep, we told them to come on out.”

Cultural center co-chairwoman Elysa Hays said the point was more to spotlight the university’s inconsistencies. “Diversity of opinion is one thing, but the university’s stance on these issues is that they affirm GLBT identities and that we are welcome at the university. To honor someone who believes the opposite just seems inconsistent.”

Minneapolis, MN – 11/12/10

TheColu.mn LGBT voter guide

We’ve combed through campaign websites, LGBT groups’ voter guides and endorsements, and public statements to give as accurate a view of the candidates on LGBT issues as possible. It’s not perfect so we ask our readers to add any updates, corrections or criticisms in the comments. Also, we at TheColu.mn encourage you to look at the candidates positions beyond LGBT issues to get a complete picture of who you intend to vote for on Tuesday. The first section covers constitutional offices such as governor, then Congressional races, then legislative races, local races and finally judicial candidates. In the interest of brevity we have only included major party candidates and we encourage readers to check out minor party candidates as well. We have created a printer-friendly version to take to the polls. It can be downloaded here: (LGBTVoterGuide)

Governor:
Republican Tom Emmer took the lead on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and civil unions in 2007 [MN revisor] He opposes GLBT-inclusive anti-bullying legislation. [Minnesota State Fair debate] Emmer proposed an amendment to ban gay and lesbian couples (as well as unmarried heterosexual couples) from using a surrogate mother, voted to deny local governments the ability to offer domestic partner benefits to their employees, voted against health care benefits for partners of state employees, voted against allowing public school students to learn about age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education, called HIV prevention outreach to gay men “disgusting discourse” and led an effort to strip the Minnesota AIDS Project of state funding, voted to deny same-sex couples the legal right to make decisions concerning the remains of their partner. [OutFront Minnesota]

DFLer Mark Dayton says he will “work to make Minnesota the sixth state in the nation to recognize that the love and commitment shared by same-sex partners is as real and meaningful as their opposite-sex counterparts.” And “will protect all our children by fighting for and signing a stronger Safe Schools bill that would give our educators the tools they need to effectively deal with bullying towards LGBT students.” And supports second party adoptions for same-sex couples. [Campaign website]. He received 100 percent rating from Human Rights Campaign during his time as U.S. Senator. Has an ‘A’ rating from Stonewall DFL and has been endorsed by that group. Also endorsed by OutFront Minnesota Action.

Independence Party candidate Tom Horner says “the quest for marriage equality is a simple matter of fairness, of equal opportunity under the law. I want everyone to have the opportunities I’ve had, including the opportunity to marry the person of their choice, and to enjoy the stability, the companionship, and the support of a marriage partner.” [Campaign website] He also supports GLBT-inclusive anti-bullying legislation. [Minnesota State Fair debate] On KFAI’s Fresh Fruit, Horner spoke about supporting HIV prevention efforts and the connection between marriage equality and anti-LGBT bullying. [KFAI]

Minnesota Auditor
DFLer Rebecca Otto is Outfront endorsed

Republican Pat Anderson opposes same-sex marriage [Star Tribune] and told the Minnesota Family Council he opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Secretary of State:
DFLer Mark Ritchie is endorsed by Stonewall DFL with an ‘A’ grade.

Republican Dan Severson sponsored a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage and civil unions. [Pioneer Press] and told the Minnesota Family Council he opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Attorney General:
DFLer Lori Swanson marched in the 2009 LGBT pride parade [Source: Twin Cities Pride parade lineup] There’s not much else available about her position on LGBT issues.

Republican Chris Barden told the Minnesota Family Council he opposes gay marriage and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Congressional District 1:
Independence Party candidate Steve Wilson indicates that he doesn’t support same-sex marriage, but “he puts aside his views against abortion and gay marriage to focus on the fiscal challenges he feels are threatening the nation’s survival.” [Star Tribune]

DFL Rep, Tim Walz voted for trans-inclusive hate crimes bill that became law [Roll call 223] and voted to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell [Roll Call 317]. Walz has an ‘A’ from the Stonewall DFL and is endorsed by that group. He also earned an 88 percent from the Human Rights Campaign.

Republican Randy Demmer told the Minnesota Family Council that he would have voted no for the hate crimes bill and no on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He also said recently, “Protecting the rights of the unborn . . . a ban on public funding of embryonic stem cell research . . . and the belief that marriage is a union of one man and one woman are fundamental. I firmly believe residents of the First Congressional District hold dearly to the philosophy that families that live, study, play and worship together are the foundation and very essence of our country.” [MN Progressive Project]

Congressional District 2:
Republican Rep. John Kline voted no on hate crimes legislation and no on a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Kline has a 0 percent from the Human Rights Campaign. He spoke out on the house in opposition to the Employment Non-Discrimination Act especially the inclusion of gender identity. [YouTube]

DFLer Shelley Madore: “She believes that anti-same-sex marriage legislation is discrimination and views it as a civil rights issue.” [National Organization for Women] Madore said she will support LGBT-specific anti-bullying legislation “that specifically prohibit bullying or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation and perceived or actual gender identity.” [Madore campaign email, October] Shelley Madore has a ‘B’ from Stonewall DFL and is endorsed by that group.

Congressional District 3:
Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen voted against hate crimes legislation and against a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Paulsen has a 0 percent from the Human Rights Campaign. Focus on the Family’s James Dobson endorsed Paulsen in 2008 saying “Erik Paulsen believes that the institution of marriage is worth protecting, and he helped lead the effort in the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman.” [Minnesota Independent]

DFLer Jim Meffert’s campaign website says he will “Strengthen equal protection and equal rights laws. Repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. Repeal the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.” He has an ‘A’ rating from the Stonewall DFL and is endorsed by that group.

Congressional District 4:
DFL Rep. Betty McCollum voted for hate crimes legislation and a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. McCollum has a 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign. Co-sponsored a bill to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act which prevents same-sex marriage at the federal level, and has cosponsored many LGBT-friendly bills.

Republican Teresa Collett testified at the Minnesota Capitol in 2010 against same-sex marriage. “Make no mistake: Marriage, as a civil institution, as a legal institution, is grounded not merely in religion but also in the biological reality that sex makes children and children need a mom and a dad,” she said. “And should we choose to redefine that legally we will put the religious and moral beliefs of all Minnesotans at issue.” [Minnesota Independent]

Congressional District 5:
DFL Rep. Keith Ellison voted for hate crimes legislation and a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. He is also co-chair of the House LGBT Caucus. Has an ‘A’ rating from the Sontewall DFL and is endorsed by that group. Has a 100 percent from the Human Rights Campaign.

Republican Joel Demos has no position listed on LGBT issues and did not respond to the Minnesota Family Council questionnaire.

Congressional District 6:
Rep. Michele Bachmann voted against hate crimes legislation and a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Bachmann has a 0 percent from the Human Rights Campaign. Bachmann built her political career by opposing LGBT rights.

DFLer Tarryl Clark has an ‘A’ rating from the Stonewall DFL and is endorsed by that group.

Independence Party candidate Bob Anderson: “Marriage should be defined as between one man and one woman, but the state’s voters should have the ultimate decision. Support civil unions and grant gays and lesbians equal rights.” [Minnesota Public Radio]

Congressional District 7:
DFLer Collin Peterson voted against hate crimes legislation and against a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Peterson has a 10 percent from the Human Rights Campaign.

Republican Lee Byberg told the Minnesota Family Council that he would have voted against hate crimes legislation and against a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Congressional District 8:
DFL Rep. James Oberstar voted for hate crimes legislation and for a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Oberstar has an 84 percent from the Human Rights Campaign.

Republican Chip Cravaack told the Minnesota Family Council he would have voted against hate crimes legislation and against a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

Because of the large number of candidates, we’ve only included those that have been endorsed by OutFront Minnesota Action, Log Cabin Republicans and Stonewall DFL. For Stonewall, we have included letter grades assigned to each candidate.

Legislative races
Minnesota Senate Candidates

SD07 Roger Reinert – Outfront
SD15 Bruce Hentges – Outfront
SD25 Kevin Dahle – Outfront
SD31 Sharon Ropes – Outfront
SD35 Travis Burton – Outfront
SD36 Steve Quist – Outfront
SD37 Mike Germain – Sontewall DFL – ‘A’
SD38 James “Jim” Carlson – Outfront
SD39 James Metzen – Outfront
SD41 Steve Elkins – Outfront
SD42 Ron Case – Outfront
SD43 Terri Bonoff – Outfront
Norann Dillon – Log Cabin Republicans
SD44 Ron Latz – Outfront
SD49 Paul Meunier – Outfront
SD53 Sandy Rummel – Outfront
SD54 John Marty – Outfront
SD58 Linda Higgins – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
SD60 Scott Dibble – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
SD61 Linda Berglin – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
SD62 Patricia Torres Ray – Stonewall DFL A
Patrick Elgin – Log Cabin Republicans
SD63 Kenneth Kelash – Outfront
SD66 Ellen Anderson – Outfront
SD67 John Harrington – Stonewall DFL ‘B’

Minnesota House Candidates

HD05B Tony Sertich – Outfront
HD07B Kerry Gauthier – Stonewall DFL A
HD09A Greg Lemke – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD10A Richard Kagan – Outfront
HD17A Jim Godfrey – Outfront
HD23B Kathy Brynaert – Outfront
HD27B Jeanne Poppe – Outfront
HD30A Tina Liebling – Stonewall DFL A
HD33B Kim Kang – Outfront
HD36B Sigrid Iversen – Outfront
HD37A Derrick Lindstrom – Outfront, Stonewall DFL B
HD38A Sandra Masin – Outfront
HD39A Rick Hansen – Outfront
HD41A Kevin Statunton – Outfront
HD41B Paul Rosenthal – Outfront
HD42A Maria Ruud – Outfront
HD43A Audrey Britton – Outfront
HD43B John Benson – Outfront
HD44A Steve Simon – Outfront
Rick Rice – Log Cabin Republicans
HD44B Ryan Winkler – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD45B Lyndon Carlson – Outfront
HD47B Melissa Hortman – Outfront
HD48A Laurie Olmon – Stonewall DFL A
HD50A Carloyn Laine – Outfront
HD51B Tom Tillberry – Outfront
HD52A Adam Best – Outfront
HD54A Mindy Greiling – Outfront
HD57B Dave Page – Outfront
HD58A Joe Mullery – Outfront
HD58B Gary Mazzotta – Log Cabin Republicans
HD59A Diane Loeffler – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD59B Phyllis Khan – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD60A Marion Greene – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
Brian Gruber – Log Cabin Republicans
HD60B Frank Hornstein – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD61A Karen Clark – Outfront
HD61B Jeff Hayden – Outfront
HD62A Jim Davnie – Outfront
Wes Whitby – Log Cabin Republicans
HD62B Jean Wagenius – Outfront
HD63A Paul Thissen – Outfront
Nathan Atkins – Log Cabin Republicans
HD63B Linda Slocum – Outfront
HD64A Erin Murphy – Outfront, Stonewall DFL A
HD64B Michael Paymar – Outfront
HD65A Rena Moran – Outfront
HD65B Carlos Mariani – Outfront
HD66A John Lesch – Stonewall DFL A
HD66B Alice Hausman – Outfront
HD67A Tim Mahoney – Outfront
HD67B Sheldon Johnson – Outfront

Local Races:

Minneapolis School Board:
Mpls School Board, At Large
Richard Mammen – Stonewall endorsed, A
Chanda Smith-Baker – Stonewall endorsed, A

Mpls School Board, Dist 1
Jenny Arneson – Stonewall endorsed, B

Mpls School Board, Dist 3
Hussein Samatar – Stonewall endorsed, A

Mpls School Board, Dist 5
Alberto Monserrate – Stonewall endorsed, A

Hennepin Co Commissioner
Gail Dorfman – Stonewall endorsed, A
Peter McLaughlin – Stonewall endorsed, A

St Louis Co Commissioner (6)
Lorrie Janatopoulos – Stonewall endorsed, A

Ramsey Co Commissioner
Toni Carter – Stonewall endorsed, A
Rafael Ortega – Stonewall endorsed, A

Ramsey Co Sheriff
Matt Bostrom – Stonewall endorsed, B

Ramsey Co Attorney
John Choi – Stonewall endorsed, A

Hennepin County Soil and water supervisor seat 3
Rahn V. Workcuff says “strongly agree that a marriage should be only between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of same sex marriages.” [Star Tribune]

Judicial candidates
Only a handful of statewide judges have challengers. And only three have made their positions on LGBT issues known. With a lawsuit to make marriage equality a reality in Minnesota, it’s very possible that judges will see the issue before them in the next two years.

Minnesota Supreme Court
Helen Meyer – incumbent, no party affiliation
Republican Greg Wersal told the Minnesota Family Council that he opposes court cases that overturned Minnesota’s sodomy laws, and supports court decision that banned adoption for same-sex couples and court decisions that banned same-sex marriage. He urged the state of Minnesota to challenge a ruling that banned sodomy [Star Tribune]

Alan Page – incumbent, no party affiliation
Republican Tim Tingelstad told the Minnesota Family Council that he opposes court cases that overturned Minnesota’s sodomy laws, and supports a court decision that banned adoption for same-sex couples and court decisions that banned same-sex marriage.

Minnesota Court of Appeals
Larry Stauber – incumbent, no party affiliation
Republican Dan Griffith told the Minnesota Family Council that he supports a court decision that banned adoption for same-sex couples and court decisions that banned same-sex marriage.