The Minnesota Human Rights Act has been in place since the late 1960s and serves the purpose of ensuring that all Minnesotans are treated as equals, and that no one is discriminated against based on personal traits including race, disability, religion, sex, and others.
In 1993, sexual orientation was added as a protected status, and an exemption for religious organizations was added to allow them to act in accordance with their religious beliefs regarding sexual orientation. This change guaranteed religious freedom and allowed all faith communities to live out our beliefs, choose our own clergy and teachers, and teach our values to our children.
Last year, the Legislature passed an amendment to the MHRA which added “gender identity” as a protected status but did not include a religious exemption. This change prohibits religious organizations, churches, and schools from acting on religious beliefs regarding human sexuality.
This is a drastic shift in the MHRA and a serious infringement on religious liberties in Minnesota.
Urge your state legislators to support the restoration of the religious exemption within the MHRA and protect the fundamental right of the free exercise of religion for both individuals and institutions.
The following organizations representing the faith community have already publicly voiced their support for the restoration of the exemption:
Watch the debate on this issue in the House Judiciary Committee
Watch the debate on this issue in the Senate Judiciary Committee
