MAP Public Policy
Current Issue of the MAP Advocate
MAP Media
Releases
News Articles of Note
HIV
in Minnesota - By the Numbers
Knowledge and Attitudes about
HIV in Minnesota - A 2001 Survey
On Watch
in Saint Paul - Minnesota Legislature Web Site
Register to receive MAP Advocate updates by email
MAP Advocate
HIV Advocacy Update
February 21, 2005
Vol. 11. No. 4
Take Action! New or Old - Find Out Where Your Legislator Stands on Sex Ed
It's an easy call or email to make. Simply contact your State Senator and Rep to let them know you support comprehensive sexual health education in Minnesota's schools and to ask if they also support comp sex ed in the schools. So you already know where your legislators stand. That's okay. They still need to get a call from you to stay on their political radar screen. But, there are also a lot of new faces at the State Capitol. If they don't hear from you, they won't know. So, set aside five minutes to make your phone call or click your email. Visit the "Talk to Lawmakers" page on the MAP Public Policy Web Page to find out who represents you and how to contact them.
The Comprehensive Family Life and Sex Education bill will be introduced at a Sex Ed for Life press conference this Wednesday, February 23 at the State Capitol. The bill establishes "comp sex ed" as the standard for HIV, STD and pregnancy prevention education in Minnesota schools. It improves upon and replaces the existing law by establishing clear rationale and definitions for comprehensive sexual health curriculum that is age appropriate and medically accurate. The curriculum would be a requirement for grades 7 through 12 and it would allow school districts considerable authority to determine how to fulfill the requirement. The bill aims to ensure that students in Minnesota receive information that is current and medically accurate using strategies that science has shown in work in helping young people to make responsible decisions. The comprehensive family life and sex education bill has broad, tri-partisan support in the legislature. As of this date, Senate authors include Sandy Pappas [DFL-St. Paul], Keith Langseth [DFL-Glyndon], Shelia Kiscaden [IND-Rochester], David Senjem [R-Rochester], Gary Kubly [DFL-Granite Falls], Bob Kierlin [R-Winona] and Paul Koering [R-Fort Ripley. The bill has thirty-five House authors; including Neva Walker [DFL-Mpls], Dan Dorman [R-Albert Lea], Ron Erhardt [R-Edina], Kathy Tingelstad [R-Andover], and Tom Huntley [DFL-Huntly].
Teaching About Criminal Sexual Conduct Proposed for HIV/STD Prevention Curriculum
Rep. Sondra Erickson [R Princeton] introduced HF1071, a bill that would add teaching about criminal sexual assault to the current state curriculum mandate for HIV/STD prevention. In recent legislative sessions, Erickson has been the lead author of bills to establish abstinence-only sex education requirements. HF1071 may provide the legislative tool for abstinence-only proponents to push the issue, so it's worth keeping an eye on it. A companion bill has yet to be introduced in the Senate. Read the bill.
Religious Leaders Urge Governor Pawlenty to Consider Poor and Vulnerable In Budget Proposal
In Duluth a group of religious leaders and churches stood together to urge Governor Tim Pawlenty to seek a "moral" solution to the states budget crisis. Churches United in Ministry, which represents 35 congregations in Duluth, held a press conference to protest tax cuts, which members say hurt the poor and vulnerable in Minnesota. In a separate meeting the top Minnesota Catholic and Lutheran bishops appeared with Jewish and Muslim leaders alongside Senator John Hottinger, DFL-St.Peter, calling for a "fair and just solution to the budget deficit". Both groups called for an increase in income taxes and fewer spending cuts to programs that assist the poor and vulnerable. Governor Pawlenty's press secretary Brian McClung responded with a statement which the Governor had released earlier: "While we appreciate the compassion and the caring of the various groups that come forward with concerns, we need to balance those concerns with our other obligations." As a result of the "no new taxes" policies, the budget proposal for the next two years recently released by the Governor recommends flat-funding for HIV prevention and the state HIV insurance and drug assistance program. Given increased demand and cost, the proposal represents a continued retrenchment in the state's commitment to HIV prevention and care. The plan also includes additional cuts in state health programs for low-income persons, particularly single individuals.
Read the Star Tribune's coverage of the activities in Duluth and the activities at the state capital .
Same-Sex Marriage Debate in House Committee to be Held in Grand Rapids
Minnesota's Anti-Marriage Amendment [HF 6] was introduced at the beginning of the 2005 legislative session. In an unusual move, the House Civil Law and Elections Committee has scheduled a hearing and vote on the bill outside of the State Capital, on March 18, 2005, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. No companion bill has been introduced in the Senate yet. For more information about the Anti-Marriage Amendment, check out OutFront MN's website .
Your Oscar Ticket Supports Our Capitol Work
MAP public policy depends upon you buying tickets for MAP's annual Hollywood Academy Awards party. We are the oldest and the coldest Academy Awards party in America. And when you buy a ticket, you make it possible for MAP public policy to do its work at the State Capitol. In addition to benefiting MAP, our Oscar Night on Ice supports District 202. Buy tickets at http://www.hollywoodevent.org/ .
MAP Advocate is published by the Minnesota AIDS Project every two weeks while the Minnesota Legislature is in session, and monthly during the rest of the year. It is available through the MAP Web site and through email list service. If you wish to order the MAP Advocate, visit our Join the Action Network page, or contact MAP Public Policy by phone or email.
MAP Public Policy
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404
612-341-2060
800-373-2437
public.policy@mnaidsproject.org
Mission & Values | Executive Director | Board of Directors | Annual Report | Publications | Calendar of Events | Employment | Contact Us
Last Updated:
Friday, March 30, 2007
[an error occurred while processing this directive]