The Rainbow Minute presents:
The Rainbow Minute
The Rainbow MinuteThe Rainbow Minute
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
“Out State Senator, Allan Spear"
Allan Spear had a long and distinguished career as a historian and as the first openly gay elected official to the Minnesota State Senate. Coming out during his first term, he was reelected in 1976, making him among the first openly gay Americans serving in elected office.
Known as a walking encyclopedia of history, he is credited with helping establish the African-American studies department at the University of Minnesota.
While his sense of humor was legendary on the Minnesota Senate floor, others remember his passion for cooking, travel and classical music.
His crowning achievement came in 1993 in the passage of the Minnesota Human Rights Act – protecting LGBT people from discrimination in housing, education and employment.
Upon his death in 2008, he was survived by his partner of over 20 years, Junjiro Tsuji.
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October 17th, 2012
Posted In: Music Shows
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