MN Legislation is Violating Religious Liberty when it comes to the Transgender Movement and Faith-Based Institutions.
Call to Action!
1- Contact Key Legislators (scroll down for contact info)
2- Monday March 25th – 2:30-4pm Press Conference and Floor Hearing State Capitol Building
(75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Saint Paul, MN 55155)
Come and Show your Support of “Religious Liberty for All!” This is a time for “Quiet Strength in Numbers” please be respectful, professional, bold, truthful and above reproach.
- Press conference: 2:30 PM in the basement press room.
- Republican House Members’ Caucus: 3:00 PM; private
- Members enter the House Chamber at 3:30 PM with our presence outside the chamber from 3:00 to 4:00 PM.
3 – Governor’s State of State Address – Tuesday March 26th Owatonna High School @ 7pm.
Rally outside Building. Again, this is a time to stress “Religious Freedom for All!”
A time for quiet strength, respectful, professional and actions above reproach.
Do not give those against Liberty any fodder for offense. Stay true, bold, strong, and in the right.
Context
Last year, The MN Human Rights Act (MN HRA) was amended in two major ways.
The state law prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education, credit, and business based on protected class, such as: race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
- Last year, the phrase “sexual orientation does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult” was removed from the definition of “sexual orientation”. In essence, it can now be argued that ‘pedophilia’ is a protected class in Minnesota.
- Prior to legislation passed in 2023″Gender Identity” was included under the definition of “sexual orientation”. Now the list of protected classes has been updated to separate them into 2 district categories and definitions. What this new legislation failed to do was to also update the “Religious Exemption” Clause. This leaves a gap where Transgender Ideology is concerned. There is no Religious Exception for Gender Identity.
Where are we at?
Due to legislation passed in 2023, MN statute is in direct conflict with both the MN and Federal Constitution. Current Statute has brought confusion and ambiguity to the status of Religious Liberty when it comes to the Transgender Agenda. This means, litigation is on the horizon.
Resolving this oversight is simple; update the Religious Exemption Clause to mirror the updated list of protected classes.
Unfortunately, the current majority party in both the MN House and Senate are NOT interested in correcting this oversight. In fact, a number of Democrat House Members went so far as to claim this issue was not an oversight but intentional!
Legislation (2024)
SF4292/HF4021 is a technical bill dealing with the MN HRA. Republicans brought forward an amendment that would fix the Religious Liberty issue. This Amendment was rejected via party lines in both the House and Senate Committee Hearings.
So Where do we go from here?
1- Contact Elected Officials (see below)
2 – Elect Legislators who support Religious Liberty and will pass legislation to update the religious exemption clause.
Learn More!
- Video of House Hearing by Rep. Walter Hudson – https://youtu.be/1Ld0QZdjKoA?feature=shared
- Video March 17th Update by Upper Midwest Law Center and True North Legal – Religious liberty is under attack in Minnesota | Minnesota Law Report (youtube.com)
- Video Pre Senate Hearing by Rep. Harry Niska – https://fb.watch/q_LO505N6G/
- News Article Post Senate Hearing Alpha News – Religious groups accuse state Democrats of ‘tremendous act of hostility’ – Alpha News
- Video Recap of Senate Hearing – https://youtu.be/eYD36SUSwHc?feature=shared
- Video Rep. Walter Hudson Recap – https://youtu.be/7AbnBndRzRg?feature=shared
- Recap by Restore MN – Restore Minnesota Action Alert: MN Human Rights Act (activehosted.com)
- Recap by Faith in Action Substack – Taking a Sledgehammer to the Pillar of Religious Freedom! (substack.com)
- Recap from Child Protection League – RED ALERT: Religious Freedom in Minnesota – CPL Action
Take Action!
Contact Elected Officials
Your State Legislators – “Who Represents Me?” (mn.gov)
Governor Tim Walz
- Telephone: 651-201-3400
- Email form
Senate Majority Leader Erin P. Murphy
- 651-296-5931
- Email Form
Senate Minority Leader Mark T. Johnson
- 651-296-5782
- Use This Email Form
Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman
- 651-296-4280
- rep.melissa.hortman@house.mn.gov
Majority Leader Jamie Long
- 651-296-5375
- rep.jamie.long@house.mn.gov
Minority Leader Lisa Demuth
- 651-296-4373
- rep.lisa.demuth@house.mn.gov
Groups Working to Preserve Religious Liberty!
The Following Groups are working to keep a close eye on this issue and its developments. Stay Up to Date! Check out their websites and Join one or all of their mailing List!
Religious Freedom — Minnesota Family Council (mfc.org)
Minnesota Catholic Conference (mncatholic.org)
Sign Up for Action Alerts (google.com)
Contact Us – Restore Minnesota (restoremn.org)
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