LGBTQ+ life in Minnesota is a chronological collection of stories that provide a glimpse into the history and sometimes turbulent nature of the LGBTQ+ experience in the state. This curation is not to highlight individual Minnesotans based on their orientation, but rather to present voices of and on the LGBTQ+ community…as it relates to the enduring fight for civil rights, societal achievements, and the act of many in attaining acceptance and inclusion in towns, family, healthcare, church, education, politics, arts, and the workplace.
June 4, 1994 - MPR’s Euan Kerr profiles the forming of Queer Street Patrol, a Minneapolis community patrol made up of local gay and lesbian and their advocates. The group is starting patrols downtown in hopes of creating a safer environment for members of the LGBT community.
June 11, 1994 - MPR’s Marianne Combs visits an adult prom being held at the Calhoun Beach Club specifically for gay and lesbian attendees. Combs interviews various individuals about their thoughts and experience on event. District 202’s first annual prom for gay and lesbian teens is also highlighted in report.
June 27, 1994 - MPR’s John Rabe talks with Toni McNaron, author and University of Minnesota professor, about the next challenges in gay and lesbian community after recent successes. McNaron also shares her thoughts on overcoming prejudice, building inclusion, and creating change that allows for lesbian and gay people feeling that they can come out.
July 8, 1994 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews editors David Carr and Rick Nelson about the launch of Q Monthly, an insert inside the alternative weekly Twin Cities Reader. Carr and Nelson discuss purpose of paper for gay and lesbian community.
July 23, 1994 - MPR’s Chris Roberts interviews an individual from the Gay 90’s about the establishment’s “90’s Choice” beer production. Originally conceived as an in-house beer, it expanded into a beer distribution opportunity, with part of the proceeds going to charities and AIDS research.
August 18, 1994 - Jon Gordon reports on St. Paul School Board Teaching and Learning Committee’s hearing regarding gay & lesbian support groups in the school district. Report includes commentary from both opponents and proponents of the program for gay and lesbian students.
October 11, 1994 - MPR’s William Wilcoxen looks at the ongoing debate over support groups developed for gay and lesbian students in local public schools and St. Paul School District’s approval of a more expansive program, Out For Equity. Reports includes comments from a student who utilized program, educators involved in program, and criticism of the support groups from a member of Minnesota Family Council.
December 10, 1994 - MPR presents various readings from a collection of essays written by teenagers about their life experience. Topics include isolation, sexual orientation, race, and despair.
December 12, 1994 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews author Jane Pejsa about her book “Gratia Countryman: Her Life, Her Loves and Her Library.” The book details the life of Gratia Countryman, a nationally known librarian who led the Minneapolis Public Library from 1904 to 1936. She was a pioneer in outreach and creating accessibility to books for the greater public.
April 26, 1995 - MPR’s Bill Wareham reports on differing tracking results of bias incidents between Minnesota Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council (GLCAC) and the state’s numbers from police records. GLCAC states that while overall numbers are down from previous year, violent hate crime incidents are up.