Posts by Andy Birkey
A graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in forestry, urban studies and sociology, Andy has been active in Minnesota’s LGBT community for the six years he has lived in Minneapolis, and has worked with and volunteered for a number of causes including LGBT rights, HIV prevention and care, transportation issues and environmental research. He has been writing Eleventh Avenue South, a blog about Minnesota LGBT news, issues, and politics, for three years and is a contributor to Metroblogging Minneapolis. Email abirkey [at] minnesotaindependent [dot] com. Twitter: @AndyMN
Several members of Minnesota delegation are millionaires, none are the 1 percent
Sen. Al Franken is the richest member of Congress, although the Republicans in the delegation are doing better than the Democrats on average.
Claims that LGBT community harassed same-sex marriage opponents not supported by courts
Courts in states across the country have rejected the National Organization for Marriage’s efforts to hide their donors, as they’re trying to do in Minnesota, saying the group provided no credible evidence of threats or violence.
Walz bill to curb congressional insider trading gets national attention
The report that prominent members of Congress have used inside knowledge of companies to know when to buy and sell stock has focused increased attention on Walz’s proposal.
(Video) Bachmann lashes out at opponents with ‘No Surprises’ campaign
The “No Surprises” campaign promises that Bachmann won’t have any surprises in her policy positions, unlike her competitors for the Republican presidential nomination.
Bachmann’s campaign manager says CBS employee suppressed conservative message
Campaign manager Keith Nahigian entered the spin room where the media and campaign staffers were gathered and said, “John Dickerson should be fired. He is a piece of shit. He is a fraud and he should be fired.”
Sierra Club comes out against anti-gay marriage amendment
It’s one of the first times a chapter of the powerful environmentalist group has backed an LGBT rights issue. The group declined to get involved in California’s Prop 8 battle in 2008 and Maine’s Question One in 2009.
Bachmann interrupted by Occupy Wall Street activists in South Carolina
Occupy Wall Street protesters said Bachmann’s stances “capitalize on dividing Americans” by claiming that people who disagree with her are “unpatriotic socialists.”
Polling on marriage amendment fluctuates wildly a year from vote
Two polls show that the amendment might get defeated while two others show a slight lead for anti-gay marriage activists.
Minnesota Senators Franken and Klobuchar vote to repeal DOMA
Franken says repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act won’t make straight people gay, but that DOMA will continue to harm LGBT couples if it isn’t repealed.
(Video) Anti-abortion activist challenging Ellison launches anti-Islam ads
Boisclair titled his press release for the ad, “Christian challenges Muslim for congressional seat.”






