[Mpls] HF341- the real "enterprise zones" act

[dyna]

By now a lot of folks have gotten about 10 e-mails about the republicans bill, HF341, to remove gays from the protection of the Human Rights Act. This bill should really in the sake of truth in legislating be retitled the "Minneapolis and St.Paul economic development act of 2003".

Minneapolis was one of the first cities in the nation to protect gays from discrimination with an ordinance in 1974, which was amended to close a loophole in 1975. Minneapolis then became a magnet for gays, with many buying homes and putting down roots. These gay citizens helped stabilize Minneapolis during the Reagan recession of the 1980s, helping the city survive that crisis in far better shape than most central cities.

Minnesota made Minneapolis' protections statewide in 1993. Suddenly it was safe in the suburbs, and many gay people moved there as well as outstate. In fact, greater Minnesota is becoming the retirement choice of an increasing number of gays.

This bill was written by the type of anti Minneapolis republicans who probably lay awake nights thinking up new ways to get even with the central cities. Little do they realize that their bill will cause a migration of gays back to the protections of Minneapolis and St.Paul, where their rights are still protected in law and quite beyond repeal.

I can see it already, as thousands of gays fill up every vacancy in Minnepolis and St.Paul. Denied housing, freaked out by pink flamingos and dykes with power tools, The gangs flee to Maple Grove, Winona, and Lakeville...

From Hawthorne, where pink flamingos are welcome,

Dyna Sluyter
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