MPR News Features are news segments created for various long-form programming, including Morning Edition and All Things Considered, amongst others. Features run the gambit of interviews, reports, profiles, and coverage.
March 17, 1993 -
March 18, 1993 - MPR’s Mike Mulcahy describes the scene as Minnesota Senate debates and votes to extend the Minnesota Human Rights Bill to include protections on one’s sexual orientation. Report includes clips of Senate floor speeches.
March 18, 1993 - At issue is the bill that’s been referred to as “gay rights” legislation. It would change the state human rights law to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas like housing, employment, and education. Current law bans discrimination based on race, sex, marital status, religion and some other factors. Supporters of the legislation are hoping the house follows the lead of the Senate and approves the bill. Opponents of the bill say it would give gays and lesbians special privileges.
March 18, 1993 - This bill would change the state's human rights law to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas like housing, employment and education. Some members of the House have been saying that the bill grants special privileges to gays and lesbians. Supporters of the bill say that it doesn't give anybody special privileges or anybody more legitimacy than anybody else. They say it just protects against discrimination in these certain limited areas. The Senate has already given preliminary approval to the bill. And if the House approves it the governor says he will sign it. Includes remarks from Hilda Betterman, Kathleen Blatz.
March 18, 1993 - State Senator Dean Johnson speaks with Cathy Wurzer about concerns and considerations connected to gay rights bill vote.
March 18, 1993 - Wisconsin was the first state in the country to include sexual orientation as a protected class under the state’s equal employment, open housing and public accommodation laws.
March 18, 1993 - Local theater critic and writer Erin Hart reviews Christopher Bayes’ This Ridiculous Dreaming being staged at the Guthrie.
March 18, 1993 - American writer Natalie Goldberg reads from her book, Long Quiet Highway: Waking Up in America. This reading excerpt reflects on Zen master Katagiri Roshi.
March 18, 1993 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles Abraham Rodriguez’s Spidertown: A Novel. Segment includes interview with Rodriguez and reading from book by the author.
March 19, 1993 - MPR’s Mike Mulcahy reports on bill passage in both Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives that changes the state's human rights law to prohibit discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas like housing, employment and education.