March 23, 1991 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on the Governor's Task Force on Lesbian and Gay Minnesotans and their recommendations in a report on Minnesota gay quality of life, which determined that gays and lesbians are targets of widespread discrimination. Report includes comments from members of task force.
February 16, 1984 - Allan Spear, Minnesota DFL state senator, shares his thoughts on the state’s sentencing guidelines system. Spear says he sees the sentencing guidelines as complex, but just.
January 6, 1975 - Spear talks about the need to make a distinction between moral and non-moral issues in making legislative decisions. He says a legislator is supposed to represent independent judgment, particularly in cases of human rights issues. He speaks about voting for gay rights in the legislature, gays holding public office, and why he makes a public statment on being gay.
July 10, 1974 - MPR’s Sam Ford reports on the battle over proposed ordinance being reviewed by St. Paul City Council. The ordinance (commonly referred to as the “Gay Rights” ordinance) would ban discrimination because of affectional or sexual preference. Ford highlights two differing views towards ordinance…the opposition of St. Paul Firefighters Local 21 and support from the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights.
May 13, 1974 - State Senator Spear talks about the formation of the Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights, a broad-based movement for gay rights in Minnesota, to bring gay rights into the mainstream of the human rights movement. The goal is to achieve full equality for gay people and rights in Minnesota, change the law, public attitude, educate people, politicize, and create a better life in Minnesota for gay people.
May 13, 1974 - MPR’s Connie Goldman profiles newly formed organization Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights. Report includes comments from visiting guests and Allan Spear, a co-chair of group, about purpose and goals of organization.
March 4, 1974 - MPR’s Gary Eichten reports on Minnesota State Senator Allan Spear's no-fault divorce bill. Spear sees it as is a compromise measure, which only deals with grounds for divorce. Traditional grounds replaced by "irretrievable breakdown of marriage" and other terms also changed.
March 2, 1974 - Minnesota legislator Allan Spear details the three things no-fault divorce bill does…changes terminology (words have less of a fault connotation than traditional terms); removes requirement for corroborating witnesses; and removes current grounds for divorce (substitutes single ground, irretrievable breakdown of marriage relationship).
October 4, 1973 - Brief report on American Indian Movement (AIM) rally at University of Minnesota on September 25, 1973, followed by various speeches from rally. Speakers included Allan Spear, Angela Davis and Russell Means.