Minnesota Human Rights Act
We are advocating for the restoration in state law of a crucial religious exemption from the Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) concerning gender identity and expression.
This exemption, which pertains to employment, membership, admissions, and governance practices within religious congregations and schools, has been in place since 1993. But the exemption was inexplicably removed last year, leaving religious organizations and schools vulnerable to civil rights complaints and legal penalties simply for upholding their values regarding matters of faith, reason, and sexual identity.
Religious leaders have been asking for the religious exemption to be restored since last summer when its omission was discovered but have not yet been successful. In some cases, testimony to restore the exemption has even been met with hostility and derision. Now, we need the collective voice of Minnesota’s faith community to step forward and protect religious freedom—what was once a core American principle enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
We urge all Minnesotans, irrespective of their religious affiliation, to join us in this vital effort to safeguard our religious liberties by signing this petition and sending a message to your legislators.
The following organizations representing the faith community have already publicly voiced their support for the restoration of the exemption:
- Minnesota Catholic Conference of Bishops
- Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
- Evangelical Lutheran Synod
- Agudath Israel
- Islamic Center of Minnesota
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Transform MN—the Evangelical Network
- Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
- Association of Christian Schools International
- Islamic Association of North America
- North Central District of the Evangelical Free Church of America
- Minnesota District Council of the Assemblies of God
- Minnesota Conference – Seventh-day Adventist Church