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Table
of Contents
1.
OutFront
Minnesota Holds Press Conference on National Anti-GLBT
Violence Report... Hate- and bias-related
crimes on the rise.
2.
Cootie Shots Too "Controversial"...
A play about tolerance staged by the University of
Minnesota--Morris sparks protest.
3.
Legislative Session Winding Down...
OutFront Minnesota continues to monitor bills for
last-minute additions.
4.
Inside OutFront... What justFair Lobby
Day feedback forms revealed.
OutFront Minnesota Holds Press Conference
on National Anti-GLBT Violence Report
Rising numbers of hate- and bias-related crimes
targeting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
(GLBT) communities across the nation and here in
Minnesota where the topic of a press conference held by
OutFront Minnesota on May 5, 2005. Working with Saint
Paul Police Chief John Harrington and Lisa Lane of
Tolerance Minnesota/Jewish Community Relations Council,
OutFront Minnesota pointed to a new report documenting
an increase in anti-GLBT violence by the National
Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) and OutFront
Minnesota.
The 1,792 anti-GLBT incidents reported to NCAVP from
across the county represented a 4% increase over the
previous year. In Minnesota, though the number of
victims fell 7%, an increase in offenders, grouped with
a significant rise in weapon use and a 38% increase in
assaults, resulted in an overall 300% increase in
serious injury to victims as well as a 71% increase in
the reporting of GLBT hate- and bias-related crimes in
Minnesota. This sharp increase in reporting can be
attributed in part to the OutFront Minnesota
Anti-Violence Program’s expanded outreach efforts and
increased visibility throughout the GLBT communities
within the past few years. Victims can even file a
report with OutFront Minnesota's Anti-Violence Program
online.
When political and religious leaders use their
visibility in order to denigrate GLBT people, and to
claim that they and their families constitute ‘threats’
to the broader community, some people will unfortunately
take this as permission to discriminate against, harass,
or even attack GLBT people. Though most leaders refrain
from encouraging violence, it is a fact that vitriolic
rhetoric contributes to a toxic environment that breeds
violence.
Visit
www.outfront.org for more information, including the
NCAVP report, statements by Lisa Lane and OutFront
Minnesota staff, and more.
Cootie Shots Too Controversial
A
play about Tolerance by the University of
Minnesota--Morris sparks protest
As
the NCAVP report shows a significant increase in
younger-aged perpetrators of anti-GLBT bias incidents,
it is clear that there is a need to expand efforts to
improve young people's understanding of appropriate ways
to respond to differences between people. And yet, just
recently, we have seen how obstacles restrict those
efforts.
Students at the University of Minnesota--Morris (UMM)
have a tradition of producing a play each spring to
which local school groups are invited at low cost, in
order to provide exposure to live theater. This spring,
the university students decided to stage a production of
Cootie Shots, a series of skits, poems, and songs
performed in a revue format encouraging children to
speak out against bullying and to explore the
differences and similarities that people of diverse
backgrounds share.
Director Ray Schultz was advised that because of the
play’s "controversial" nature, he should not include
skits dealing directly with GLBT people and families.
Despite countless hours of work with school
administrators to make the play acceptable to the people
of the Morris community, several schools decided not to
bring their students to the play. Part of the reason
appears to relate to the fact that the play coincides
with UMM’s annual Pride Week. During Pride Week,
students organize such events as a vigil, and opening
ceremony and rainbow flag raising, movies, speakers,
musicians, Safe Zone training, and other events. It is
reported that some parents, outraged at the schools'
decisions, opted to take their children out of school on
the dates of the performances they were not permitted to
attend.
The Morris GLBT and allied community sponsored a reading
of the skits that were not performed because of their
"controversial" quality (most of them addressing issues
of GLBT families/identity and gender stereotypes) and a
discussion following. OutFront Minnesota salutes the
determined efforts of UMM faculty and students to
present these performances in their entirety, and
laments the fact that a play about tolerance fell victim
to the very intolerance it was intended to address.
Legislative
Session Winding Down
OutFront Minnesota continues to monitor bills for
last-minute additions
The Minnesota Constitution mandates that the Legislature
end its regular session this year no later than May 23,
which means that legislative committees are beginning to
wind up their work on the various bills under
consideration. Experience suggests that it is often
during such "crunch" times that legislators attempt to
tack anti-GLBT amendments onto important legislation,
even when they're sometimes irrelevant to the subject
matter of the bill. In the past, favorite subjects have
included efforts to restrict the ability of schools to
discuss GLBT issues, or to dilute the Minnesota Human
Rights Act. OutFront Minnesota's public policy staff is
monitoring developments at the Capitol to make sure
these tactics, if attempted, are unsuccessful - but stay
tuned for action alerts in case your voice is needed!
Inside OutFront:
Reflections from Lobby Day
...an
insider's view of justFair Lobby Day 2005...
Each year at Lobby Day, OutFront Minnesota asks
participants to complete feedback forms following their
meetings with legislators. The forms not only give
insights into legislators' thoughts on GLBT-related
issues, which are not often available through general
media, but they also alert OutFront Minnesota to
questions legislators have or about information they
want, which we can provide to help move them in a
positive direction.
This year, one participant wrote about the meeting with
Sen. David Senjem (R - Rochester): "The meeting lasted
for 40 minutes! The 17 constituents shared very personal
stories and really made connections with him. When we
were kicked out of the meeting room due to an other
appointment, he offered to continue the meeting outside.
He seemed very open to hearing stories/opinions and
unable to justify his anti-GLBT votes. He agreed that
our state loses when its GLBT citizens move to more
supportive states."
In
contrast, another participant reflected on her group's
meeting with Sen. Mady Reiter (R - Shoreview): "Brought
the bible to the constituent meeting - read scripture -
she was very hostile."
Many feedback forms suggested that legislators who have
supported the proposed amendment to the state
constitution outlawing any form of legal recognition for
same-sex couples and their families are quite
conflicted, regardless of party affiliation, regarding
the language that would forbid the recognition of these
families in other forms, such as domestic partnerships
and civil unions; some, indeed, seemed very interested
in exploring these other routes.
It
is quite possible that there will not be further action
on the proposed amendment in the Senate in 2005, but it
is almost certain to be readdressed in 2006. This gives
all of us time to continue educating our elected
officials about the realities of our lives, and about
how legal recognition of same-sex couples and their
families strengthens those families and the communities
they live in. OutFront Minnesota will continue to seek
opportunities to share that message with legislators and
Minnesotans generally, and looks forward to working with
groups of fair-minded Minnesotans from across the state
to show why this proposal is harmful and should be
defeated. Want to schedule a constituent meeting with
your representative or senator this summer? Contact our
public policy
department for tips or assistance!
Looking for something to do?
Look
no further than OutFront Minnesota's
Community Calendar!
OutFront Minnesota's web-based community calendar is THE
place to check for events and happenings this summer.
Are you planning an event that you want the GLBT and
allied community to know about? It's easy to
submit your event! OutFront Minnesota is proud to
offer community organizations this opportunity to reach
others.
Check it out each week for more current events!
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