Minnesota Independent

As Democrats file complaint over controversial prayer, Bradlee Dean slams GOP’s Zellers

By Andy Birkey | 05.23.11 | 11:19 am

The decision to allow anti-gay preacher Bradlee Dean to give the opening prayer before the Minnesota House on Friday sent shockwaves through the Legislature, and the reverberations from that decision continued over the weekend. Democrats filed a complaint on Sunday after House Speaker Kurt Zellers moved to strike Dean’s name from the official record, while Dean, after skipping his own press conference on the matter, took to the airwaves to slam Zellers for not defending him.

Sen. Gazelka to Bradlee Dean: Gay marriage ban supporters aren’t bigots

By Andy Birkey | 05.03.11 | 11:38 am

Republican Sen. Paul Gazelka was a guest on Bradlee Dean’s Saturday evening radio program to talk about the amendment to put a ban on same-sex marriage into the Minnesota Constitution. Over the course of the program, which is part of Dean’s controversial ministry, You Can Run But You Cannot Hide, Gazelka spoke about activist judges and concerns that Republicans might be labeled “homophobes” or “bigots.” Dean and sidekick Jake McMillian said that homosexuals are criminals and America will be destroyed if homosexuality isn’t criminalized.

Republican Sens. Dan Hall, Warren Limmer, David Hann and Paul Gazelka

Minnesota Republicans offer constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage

By Andy Birkey | 04.26.11 | 4:18 pm

Republicans in the Minnesota Senate introduced three bills on Tuesday that aim to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage before voters in 2012. Minnesota law already outlaws same-sex marriage. State Democrats say the bill is a distraction from the economic crisis — and a state budget that the GOP has yet to pass.

Minnesota GOP moves to ban funding for Planned Parenthood

By Andy Birkey | 04.18.11 | 3:42 pm

Minnesota legislators introduced a bill on Monday that would ban state family planning money from going to any organization that offers abortion services, advocates for the right to choose an abortion, counsels pregnant women that abortion is an option or is affiliated with any organization that engages in those activities. In fact, under the bill, family planning dollars cannot be used to refer women to abortion services even if they are explicitly seeking those services. The bill introduced on Monday is the twelfth anti-abortion rights bill introduced so far this session.

Koering to run as write-in candidate

By Andy Birkey | 09.20.10 | 10:11 am

Paul Koering, Minnesota’s only elected gay Republican, may become Minnesota’s only elected gay independent. Koering told the St. Cloud Times over the weekend that he will run a write-in campaign for the state Senate seat he now holds. Koering…

Anti-Koering ads raise question: Should NOM be registered with campaign finance board?

By Andy Birkey | 08.20.10 | 12:32 pm

Two campaign mailers targeting openly gay Republican Sen. Paul Koering raise questions about the National Organization for Marriage’s activities in Minnesota. NOM has been active in its opposition to candidates it perceives as supportive of gay marriage, but it hasn’t registered with the state, a requirement for groups that spend more than $100 to support or oppose political candidates.

Koering quits politics citing GOP swing to the right

By Andy Birkey | 08.12.10 | 11:00 am

Minnesota’s only elected openly gay Republican is calling it quits following a primary loss on Tuesday. Koering was defeated by fellow Republican Paul Gazelka for the Minnesota Senate seat encompassing Brainerd. Koering, who came out in 2005,…

Koering subject of GOP ‘witch hunt,’ according to Republican leaders

By Andy Birkey | 07.20.10 | 8:56 am

The Republican Party of Minnesota is investigating one of its own, and it has GOP leaders a bit uneasy. The party sent a letter to the Morrison County Sheriff asking for records of 911 calls and law enforcement visits…

Koering’s opponent responds to gay porn flap

By Andy Birkey | 06.18.10 | 7:25 am

Openly gay state Sen. Paul Koering, already facing a tough GOP primary battle, raised eyebrows earlier this week when he confirmed to a gay porn website that he had dinner with a porn actor last weekend. His Republican…

Emmer, Quist get top marks from anti-immigrant group

By Andy Birkey | 02.22.10 | 11:25 am

Gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer and congressional candidate Allen Quist are among candidates who earned top marks from the anti-immigrant group Minnesotans Seeking Immigration Reform (Minn-SIR). Minn-SIR got its start as the Minnesota Minutemen, a group the Southern Poverty Law…