ST. PAUL – Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, and fellow Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature on Monday intensified their efforts to address an issue related to religious freedom. Democrats then put that project on indefinite hold.
The afternoon started with a press conference where dozens of religious leaders from around the state joined Republicans in calling for religious freedom to be restored in the Minnesota Human Rights Act, protecting religious organizations and faith-based schools against claims of gender identity discrimination.
Shortly thereafter, Democrats tabled a House Republican motion to bring forward legislation to make that happen. It was the third time this session Democrats had at least temporarily blocked a Republican attempt at restoring religious freedom language to the HRA, following committee votes in both the House and the Senate.
“We offered Democrats the opportunity to reassure faithful Minnesotans they support religious freedom, but they refused to do so today,” said Niska, who authored language he said ensures religious organizations and faith-based schools can, among other things, hire teachers and ministers consistent with their mission and values. “This is an especially solemn time for many in the faith community. It is important to make it clear to all Minnesotans that both legislative parties believe religious liberty has a place in our state. I can’t imagine living in a state where faith communities of all types can’t pick their own teachers and ministers. Unfortunately, Democrats prevented us from resolving this issue today.”
Before last year, when gender identity was included (or subsumed) within the 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 created last year, there was no corresponding religious exemption added. This issue caused alarm among Minnesota’s faith community and Niska worked with religious leaders to craft H.F. 3926 to resolve the issue. It remains unclear when – or if – the House majority will revisit Niska’s bill.
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