I Don't Believe This

[pameladean]

A bill was introduced in the Minnesota legislature yesterday that would remove from the Minnesota Human Rights Act the mention of sexual orientation, and specifically withdraw sexual orientation as a protected category in hate-crime law, and allow discrimination in housing, employment, and so on, on the basis of gender orientation (including transexuality). If this passes, we will be the only state ever to first extend such protections to GLBT people, and THEN TAKE THEM AWAY. God help us. That language only got added in 1993 in the first place. At least that made us very slightly less barbaric than a lot of other places.

I got my information from the Human Rights Campaign. If you Google for them, you can find their website with more information. I've written to my representatives already.

I cannot believe this. It's bad enough to feel about my country that I am ashamed to be here and would like to go somewhere else, but to feel it about my adopted state as well is well-nigh intolerable. What a nightmare.

(I don't want to argue about hate-crime laws. Please. As long as we have such things, removing their protection from certain groups is disgusting and invitational. Jesus Christ.)

Pamela

Comments

[pameladean]

The original version of this was garbled, both as to fact -- I said they wanted to repeal the Minnesota Human Rights Act outright, which actually would not surprise me, but it's not what the bill in question is actually doing -- and in language, so I edited it. Pfui.

Pamela

[delicarose.livejournal.com]

Where justice is denied, where
poverty is enforced, where
ignorance prevails, and where
any one class is made to feel
that society is in an organized
conspiracy to oppress, rob, and
degrade them, neither persons
nor property will be safe.
- Frederick Douglass

[mudandflame.livejournal.com]

I find it's still possible to be happy I live in Minnesota as long as I don't focus too much on the vertebrates.

R.

[pameladean]

Well, truly, the conduct of the orchids and dragonflies is largely satisfactory.

Pamela

[kightp.livejournal.com]

And here in Oregon, a slew of abortion rights repeals were introduced in the first weeks of a legislative session that really needs to focus on a massive state budget deficit.

Two steps forward, one step back (or is it the other way 'round? Some days I'm not sure). I have to say that the gleeful attack on hard-won freedoms by ultraright Republicans scares me a helluva lot more than the heightened "alert levels" imposed this week by the Office of Homeland Security...

[pameladean]

Yes. I'm far more afraid of the present administration than of terrorists.

We, too, have a massive budget deficit; I am not sure any state has not. *sigh*

Pamela

[vass]

There are no words for this, it's just terrible. I'm so sorry, for your state and your country.

[pameladean]

Your kindness is appreciated. It feeds hope nicely.

Pamela

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

Hopefully your state legislature will come to their senses.

I will be thinking good thoughts toward that end.

[pameladean]

It is possible that the people who wrote it are such total nutcases that even legislators who would otherwise agree with them won't be able to swallow this bill. I can't get as much information as I want, but according to HRC, Minnesota (apparently) has on the books some kind of condemnation of the behavior of the Nazis, and these bozos also want to remove from that legislation any reference to sexual orientation. It's all despicable, but that is just loopy.

Pamela

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

Between this and the baby ferret thing (see my latest lj entry) I'm slowly becoming reconciled to the idea of Dubya starting World War 3 and blowing our species off the face of the planet. Perhaps the cockroaches will be able to build a reasonable, tolerant society. We certainly haven't had much success doing so. I wonder if it's some fatal mammalian flaw. :(

[pameladean]

Argh. I don't know.

I will add, however, that Governor Pawlenty, for whom I have very little patience and did not vote, but who is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, a mammal, has said that if this bill reaches his desk, he will not sign it.

I sure don't like thinking that what the Minnesota legislature does or does not do won't matter a fig if our alleged president really messes up.

Pamela

[noveldevice.livejournal.com]

It is entirely splendid that your governor has said that he won't sign that bill. Yay for sane mammals!

Despite my fears about the end result of our duly-selected administration's current actions, pets must be fed, homework must be done, bathrooms must be cleaned... With luck, all will be well. :) Let the daily rituals performed in expectation of a tomorrow ensure that tomorrow arrives.