MPR’s Donna Nicholson reports on a survey put forth to the lesbian and gay community in the Twin Cities. The results detailed feelings on own’s sexual identity, discrimination, youth counseling, and domestic partners protections.
MPR’s Donna Nicholson reports on a survey put forth to the lesbian and gay community in the Twin Cities. The results detailed feelings on own’s sexual identity, discrimination, youth counseling, and domestic partners protections.
DONNA NICHOLSON: Leaders say the survey is directed at the broader community to help clear up any misconceptions people may have about gays and lesbians. Ann DeGroot is the executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council. DeGroot says the survey of 1,800 people shows a community that is comfortable with its sexual orientation.
ANN DEGROOT: 78% of our survey respondents indicated that they were out, at least in part, to some of their friends and co-workers. 52% of the survey respondents said that they were conscious of their sexual identity before they were 13 years old. 96% of the survey respondents said that they were at least comfortable, so that they were comfortable or very comfortable with their identity as a lesbian or a gay man.
DONNA NICHOLSON: But a majority of those surveyed said discrimination was a part of their lives. 76% reported emotional or physical abuse, rejection by friends and family, harassment, and job discrimination. Laws in Minneapolis and St. Paul protect people from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Despite that, Ann DeGroot says gays and lesbians still have very little legal protection against discrimination.
ANN DEGROOT: We are asking that government agencies, public policy makers, employers, churches, schools, develop policies and laws that can adequately protect gays and lesbians who are their clients, their constituents, and their citizens.
DONNA NICHOLSON: Leaders say they hope Governor-elect Arne Carlson will follow the example of Rudy Perpich by signing an executive order that protects gay and lesbian state employees from discrimination. The survey also points to the need for schools and other organizations serving young people to provide more counseling for youth who are discovering their sexual identity.
But leaders are also pushing for a domestic partners law, giving gay and lesbian couples and non-married heterosexual couples the same benefits as people who are married. The city of Minneapolis is trying to get such a law on the books. Minneapolis City councilman, Brian Coyle.
BRIAN COYLE: Whether you're working on direct action, legislative lobbying, or just daily life issues, which for me-- things like domestic partners have an enriching quality because it actually fits my constituents out there in the Sixth Ward. I just think you're going to see even more activity from people again because as that survey shows, they're confident, they're out, they're not going away, they're not going to be silenced. And they know that silence really does equal death, given the current AIDS crisis.
DONNA NICHOLSON: The survey coincides with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Conference, which begins today in Minneapolis. Organizers expect 600 people from almost 40 states to attend this year's conference. I'm Donna Nicholson, reporting.
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