Allan Spear remembered for fairness, courage

Minnesota mourns the loss of former state Sen. Allan Spear, DFL-Minneapolis, whose legacy of even-handedness across the political aisle and courage as the nation’s first openly gay legislator will continue to influence the state.

Spear died Saturday of complications from heart surgery. He was 71. He is survived by his partner of 20 years, Junjiro Tsuji.