Minneapolis, MN – More than 50 people, mostly Latino, marched through the Latino community today to encourage people to vote no on the Voter ID amendment and the anti-gay marriage amendment. The two proposed amendments to the state constitution will be on the Minnesota ballot Nov. 6. They are proposed and promoted by the right wing. Polls are very close for both amendments, so mobilizing people to turn out to vote against them is at a fevered pitch.

Stand up for full equality; strike a blow against racist and anti-gay discrimination

On Nov. 6 Minnesotans will join with the rest of the country to vote on Election Day. But in Minnesota there won’t just be politicians on the ballot – there will also be two proposed constitutional amendments to vote on. If the majority of voters vote ‘yes’ on these amendments they will become part of the state constitution. These two referendums are very dangerous.

Minneapolis, MN – Members of the Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression (MNCSFR) and the Anti-War Committee passed out leaflets and stickers at the Twin Cities Pride Festival here, June 23, to build opposition to FBI repression against anti-war and international solidarity activists.

Bail posted, still calling for everyone to “Support CeCe!”

Minneapolis, MN – On the evening of June 4, Leslie Feinberg, a renowned transgender activist and author of Stone Butch Blues and Trans Liberation, was arrested for showing solidarity with Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald.

Hundreds take to street in protest

Minneapolis, MN – Leslie Feinberg was arrested the evening of June 4, amidst hundreds of Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald supporters protesting outside of the Hennepin County Public Safety Facility.

Supporters charge that racism and transphobia in legal system continue the assault against McDonald

Minneapolis, MN – Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald accepted a plea agreement, May 2, to a reduced charge of manslaughter in the second degree in the criminal case resulting from the racist, transphobic assault that she survived last June.

Minneapolis, MN – Jury selection for Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald’s trial began May 1, amidst a national outcry. On April 30, national figures Mara Keisling, founding Executive Director of the National Center for Transgender Equality and Leslie Feinberg, author of Stone Butch Blues, flew into Minneapolis to attend the first scheduled day of McDonald’s trial. In an open letter calling on Michael Freeman to cease prosecution of McDonald, Feinberg commented, “The right of self-defense against all forms of oppressions – the spirit of Stonewall – is at the heart of the demand to free [McDonald].” Mara Keisling echoed this sentiment, stating, “People are being killed out there, and CeCe is being punished for not being killed.”

Minneapolis, MN – After initially refusing a meeting, Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman agreed to meet with CeCe McDonald's family and supporters April 24. Hours before the meeting, Freeman's office issued a letter to McDonald's supporters defending his decision to charge her with two counts of second degree murder.

Asheville, NC – Dozens of community members and students rallied and marched through downtown Asheville April 7, chanting, “Gay or straight, stop the hate! Vote no on May 8th!” Amendment One is an anti-GLBTQ marriage proposal. The University of North Carolina-Asheville Coalition Against Amendment One organized the event.

Salt Lake City, UT – On March 9, six students from five clubs met with the Utah Valley University President Matthew Holland. The students were demanding the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity and expression in the school anti-discrimination policy. Students also want policy changes in hiring and education opportunity.

_McDonald granted furlough to work, denied request to return to college _

Minneapolis, MN – Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald appeared in court, Dec. 20 for a hearing where it was decided that her trial will begin on April 30, 2012, instead of the original start date of Jan. 9. Judge Moreno also ruled that, given the delayed trial date, McDonald will be permitted furlough time to seek employment and, once she finds a job, to go to work. The defense argued that McDonald should be granted furlough time to return to continue her schooling at Minneapolis Community and Technical College, given that she has been a “model citizen” in the months since her release from jail. However, Judge Moreno ruled against this request. The prosecution opposed both work and educational furloughs for McDonald, although they did not cite any specific rationalization for their position.

_McDonald asserts self-defense _

Minneapolis, MN – Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald appeared in court, Dec. 5, for the first evidentiary hearing for the charges she is facing after being the target of a racist attack in June of this year. Prosecutors argued that a statement police extracted from McDonald under adverse conditions after her arrest should be admitted at trial, while McDonald’s attorney argued that the police denied her due process rights by extracting the statement after she had been isolated for hours when she was exhausted and in physical and emotional distress.

Minneapolis, MN – Community members, family, friends, and supporters of Chrishaun “CeCe” McDonald held a boisterous rally outside the office of Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman, demanding that he drop the charges against McDonald.

Minneapolis, MN – At a hearing for Chrishaun McDonald on Sept. 22, over 40 people gathered to show their support for her, as both sides made arguments in regards to the defense’s motion for a bail reduction.

By Luce Guillen-Given, Lex Huran, Kris Gebhard, Billy Navarro Jr., Katie Burgess and Jill Bartel

Minneapolis, MN – On July 21, ultra-right wing presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann’s husband’s clinic was overrun by costumed ‘gay barbarians,’ who grunted, threw glitter inside the clinic lobby and chanted, “You can’t pray away the gay – baby, I was born this way!”

Chicago, IL – Over 1500 LGBTQ folks came out to march at Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood for the annual Dyke March on June 25. This was the second year at South Shore, a predominantly African-American neighborhood, as organizers have rotated locations for the past several years in efforts to expand to the larger queer community outside of the historic Boystown and Andersonville neighborhoods of Chicago.

Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Committee to Stop FBI Repression (CSFR) had a big presence at the annual Minneapolis LGBTQ Pride parade this year. A lively CSFR contingent participated in the annual parade down Hennepin Avenue to Loring Park on June 25. Thousands of flyers about FBI and grand jury repression against anti-war activists were handed out to the crowds at the CSFR information booth all day Saturday and Sunday and over 250 new people signed the pledge to resist if any activists are indicted or jailed in the ongoing witch hunt.

St. Paul, MN – Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and straight people besieged the capitol here, raising their voices against a bill that starts the process towards a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, by defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman (HF1615). On May 16, chants of, “Gay, straight, Black, white – civil marriage is a right!” rang through the capitol as over 1000 people gathered in front of the House Representatives chamber doors waiting for the session to begin.

Waukesha, WI – Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), along with other student groups, held a Speak Out Against Racism! demonstration in response to a recent rise of white supremacist graffiti on the University of Wisconsin-Waukesha campus. The graffiti included swastikas and the initials “KKK.” The graffiti had previously been addressed by the university administration only with a mass email warning of a possible “written reprimand, loss of a privilege, or community service” for the perpetrator.