In 1993, the Minnesota Legislature amended the
Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) to prohibit many forms of
discrimination on the basis of "sexual orientation." The broad
definition of "sexual orientation" in MHRA made it the nation's first
state civil rights law to protect transgender individuals from
discrimination.
"Sexual orientation" is defined as "having or being perceived as
having an emotional, physical, or sexual attachment to another person
without regard to the sex of that person or having or being perceived as
having an orientation for such attachment, or having or being perceived
as having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with
one's biological maleness or femaleness. ‘Sexual orientation' does not
include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult."
Under Minnesota law, discrimination on the basis of sexual
orientation is generally prohibited in:
- Employment, including labor union membership
- Real property (housing)
- Public accommodations (such as theaters or restaurants)
- Public services (those provided by government)
- Education, including private, secular schools
- Credit
- Business contracting
However, MHRA also contains various exceptions when it comes to
sexual orientation – that is, areas where discrimination remains legal.
These areas are:
- Youth-serving agencies (employees or volunteers only)
- Duplex rentals
- Religious institutions (applies to education, employment,
housing/real property, or use of facilities, but not "secular
business activities" unrelated to the institution's educational or
religious purpose)
If you believe you have experienced discrimination in any of these
areas, you can call the
Minnesota
Department of Human Rights at (651) 296-5663/(800) 657-3704.
Certain cities in Minnesota have their own human rights ordinance,
with separate enforcement offices. In St. Paul, please contact the
Department of Human Rights at (651) 266-8966; in Minneapolis, the
Department of Civil Rights at (612) 673-3012.
In Duluth, please contact the
Human Rights Office at (218) 730-5630. |
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