Minnesota Independent

University of Minnesota. Source: Michael Hicks

More than 60 law professors speak out against anti–gay marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.05.11 | 8:43 am

Sixty-three current and former law school faculty members from the University of Minnesota signed an open letter to state legislators on Wednesday urging them to vote against a bill that would put an anti-gay marriage question on the 2012 ballot. The lawyers said the constitutional amendment would “cement the existing hardships” that gay and lesbian families now face and cause costly legal fights for the state down the road.

Opponents say GOP gay marriage amendment distracts from economy

By Andy Birkey | 04.27.11 | 8:23 am

Business leaders, Democrats and LGBT groups are unified in one aspect of their opposition to a Republican Senate bill that would but a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage on the ballot in 2012: Gay marriage is a distraction from Minnesota’s economic needs.

LGBT issues poised to be hot debate at the capitol

By Andy Birkey | 11.17.10 | 1:55 pm

After years as a low-profile issue at the Minnesota Legislature, same-sex marriage is likely to become a source of controversy next session. New Republican majorities in both the House and the Senate bode well for efforts by the Minnesota Family Council and the Catholic Church, both of which hope to place a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage on the ballot in 2012. Republican leadership has been mum on the prospect so far, and despite long odds, LGBT advocates hope to advance a few key provisions of their own in 2011.

Pawlenty vetoes ‘death rights’ bill for same-sex couples

By Andy Birkey | 05.17.10 | 12:00 am

Citing his support for “traditional marriage,” Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed a bill on Saturday that would allow a surviving same-sex partner to sue to recover damages in the case of wrongful death and to execute a deceased partner’s funeral wishes. Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, called the veto “partisan extremism,” and Project 515 said Pawlenty got his “facts wrong.”

Legislature passes ‘death rights’ bill for same-sex couples

By Andy Birkey | 05.12.10 | 3:08 pm

The Minnesota Legislature has passed a bill that would give same-sex couples more end-of-life rights in the event of a partner’s death, but Gov. Tim Pawlenty has threatened to veto the bill. It passed in the Minnesota Senate on Wednesday and the House on Tuesday, despite the argument from Republicans that the bill discriminated against opposite sex couples.

Legislators push for vote on bill to aid grieving same-sex couples

By Andy Birkey | 05.05.10 | 9:19 am

As the legislative session nears its end at the Capitol, advocates of rights for same-sex couples are giving legislators a last minute push on a key piece of legislation. Project 515 held a press conference on Tuesday to urge the Minnesota House take a vote on the Final Wishes and Wrongful Death bill. On hand were individuals who, at a profound time of grief, found that the law afforded them no recognition in making arrangements for their deceased partners.

Final Wishes: Proposed bill aims to help grieving same-sex couples

By Andy Birkey | 01.22.09 | 6:05 pm

Like many couples, Tim Reardon and his partner Eric diligently prepared everything they needed should one of them die. But when Eric lost his struggle with brain cancer, Reardon discovered that a single error in their legal paperwork meant that he couldn’t fulfill his longtime partner’s end-of-life wishes. Reardon told his story today at a press conference announcing proposed legislation called the “Final Wishes Act” which aims to give same-sex couples some of the same rights legally married couples get automatically.