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Why did Star Tribune ask anti-LGBTQ group about LGBTQ health?
On February 22, the Star Tribune previewed the Rainbow Health Initiative’s Opportunity Conference, a two-day event at the University of Minnesota focusing on advancing LGBTQ health. In that article, reporter Allie Shah interviewed the anti-LGBTQ group, the Minnesota Family Council, about LGBTQ health. Not everyone is a proponent of the conference. “Regardless of lifestyle, everyone […]
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Commentary: Charlie Sheen and a New Conversation about HIV
Today, for the first time since Magic Johnson’s disclosure in 1991, we’re beginning a much-overdue national conversation about HIV and AIDS in the wake of Charlie Sheen’s announcement. This isn’t a good thing, it’s a GREAT thing. It’s a huge opportunity for us to share and educate. As many of you have already seen, it’s […]
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Creating a more equitable Minnesota through journalism
Investigative journalism is an important part of the struggle for equity. Journalism is the means by which discriminatory practices, bad actors, and anti-social ideas are exposed. The Column has been working hard to uncover discrimination, exemplified by the piece published this week on the Minnesota colleges and universities that discriminate against the LGBT community. The […]
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Commentary: MinnPost, Academia and the Failure of Trans Reporting
It didn’t take long for the MinnPost article called “What does Caitlyn Jenner’s ‘Vanity Fair’ cover mean for the transgender kid in rural Minnesota?” to hit my inbox, my chat message center, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and my iPhone. Calls of transphobia, poor journalism, violation of AP Style Handbook Rules, and a cisgender take on a […]
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Editorial: GOP ignores local control principles in favor of anti-transgender policies
In 2014, Republicans were unanimous in their opposition to the Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act, an anti-bullying bill that they said would diminish the local control of school boards in addressing bullying. Last weekend, Republicans passed legislation that would take away the decision-making ability of local school districts when it comes to transgender inclusion. […]
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Minnesota’s SF 1543 to codify gender and sex by anatomy
The Minnesota GOP has introduced a comprehensive bill that will eliminate all gender inclusive policies adopted by all Minnesota School districts and repeal the Transgender Athlete policy recently passed. Senate bill SF 1543 was introduced on Friday by Republicans David M. Brown, Mary Kiffmeyer, Carrie Ruud, Dave Thompson and Torrey Westrom. The Student Physical Privacy […]
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Editorial: For LGBT students, the difference a school board can make is huge
Events of the last month have demonstrated the drastic difference that leadership on a local school board can make for the safety of students and civility in discourse. The St. Paul Board of Education and the Anoka-Hennepin School District are both considering policies that would provide more inclusion for LGBT students. Even though less than […]
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Editorial: On child protection legislation, where is the Child Protection League?
The Minnesota Child Protection League was founded in 2013 by a half-dozen politically-connected conservative Christian women. The name suggests that the group is committed to protecting children; indeed the group’s mission says it exists to “protect all children from exploitation, indoctrination and violence.” In almost two years of existence, however, the group’s main activity appears […]
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Community Voices: An Open Letter to Twin Cities Pride, This Year’s Theme Should Be #BlackLivesMatter
Dear Scott Feldman, the rest of the Board of Directors for Twin Cities Pride, and the rest of the Staff of Twin Cities Pride I don’t believe I will write anything, say anything, that has not already been said or written. I, in so many ways, am repeating what my other fellow queer people of […]
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Commentary: Urban-rural squabbles are harmful to LGBT communties
When Republicans retook the Minnesota House in November it sparked a conversation about Minnesota’s rural-urban divide. The party, candidates, and especially outside groups spent large amounts of money convincing rural Minnesota voters that DFL candidates cared more about Twin Cities issues than rural concerns. Gay marriage — and safe schools for LGBT students to a […]