ST. PAUL – In spite of the support and testimony from numerous religious organizations in the State of Minnesota, State Representative Bjorn Olson (R-Fairmont) said the legislative majority is refusing to fix a bill it passed last year that interferes with the First Amendment to the Constitution which guarantees freedom of religion.
“The new law is troublesome as it interferes with the rights of Minnesota’s religious organizations to hire employees who will best implement their mission,” Olson said.
Before last year, when gender identity was included within the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) definition of sexual orientation, the still-existing religious exemption for sexual orientation covered gender identity claims as well. When a new, separate definition of gender identity was passed into law by the legislative majority last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added.
Assuming the change was a legislative oversight, a proposal was brought forward that would restore the status quo as it existed from 1993-2023. Doing so, Olson said, would protect religious organizations and faith-based schools against claims of gender identity discrimination and allow them to hire teachers and ministers consistent with their mission and values.
Olson said the plan has broad support, as the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition, Agudath Israel of Minnesota, the Islamic Center of Minnesota and many others have all pledged their support.
On March 25, the House majority tabled a proposal that would have restored religious freedom in the MHRA, which Olson said essentially puts religious organizations and faith-based schools at risk of facing claims of gender identity discrimination. Previously, the House and Senate majority both voted down similar actions in their respective committees.
Following the most recent vote, House Democrat Judiciary Finance Chair Jamie-Becker Finn ridiculed the Republican attempt at re-establishing this religious freedom, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “they're doing this because it gets them a lot of clicks and they get to give some fun speeches on the floor."
“It’s sad that members of the House majority apparently think so little of the First Amendment and the people and organizations it is designed to protect,” Olson said. “Partisan feelings cannot be allowed to overtake Constitutional rights, and residents should know I always stand on the side of maintaining their freedoms.”
Since the exemption has been removed, Olson said at least one faith-based school is already dealing with an employment complaint at the department of human rights.