Human Rights and Diversity - 06/14/2012MEETING NOTES
EDEN PRAIRIE HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012 7:00 P.M., 125 EDEN PRAIRIE CENTER
Office of Housing and Human Services
COMMISSION MEMBERS: Pam Spera (Chair), Robert Rozanski (Vice Chair),
Gayle Sanders, PG Narayanan, Zina Nourkadi,
Hans Gustafson, and Laura Kaczmarek
STAFF: Molly Koivumaki, Manager - Housing and
Community Services; Heidi Wojahn, Recorder;
Mohamed Duale
STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES: Ramla Mahamud, Camrie Vlasak
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Chair Spera called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m. Commissioners Nourkadi, Rozanski,
Narayanan, and Gustafson and Student Representatives Mahamud and Vlasak were
absent.
II. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
No quorum.
III. MINUTES
No quorum.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
None.
V. REPORTS FROM STAFF
None.
VI. OLD BUSINESS
A. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT – Spera/Kaczmarek
Spera reported Koivumaki checked with the City Manager regarding whether HRDC
can publicly take a stand on the proposed marriage amendment and ask Council to do
the same. The reply was neither the Commission nor Council shall take a position. A
resident called Koivumaki wanting to speak with Spera about the issue saying ten
HUMAN RIGHTS AND DIVERSITY COMMISSION MEETING NOTES
June 14, 2012
Page 2
other city councils have passed resolutions taking a stand and urging citizens to vote a
particular way and requesting Eden Prairie do the same. Spera relayed the City’s
position to the caller.
Following up on last month’s meeting, Kaczmarek shared additional information she
researched about the proposed marriage amendment. According to Minnesotans
United for All Families, seven cities have publicly come out against the amendment.
As of May 1, there were 456 partners of the coalition opposed to the amendment
including government and non-government groups, human rights commissions, non-
profit agencies, businesses, churches and other faith-based organizations. There is a
shorter list of supporters (primarily churches and other faith-based organizations)
according to information found at Minnesotaformarriage.com, the website for the
official coalition in favor of the amendment. Discussion ensued about specific
organizations for and against the amendment and numbers of supporters on each side.
B. HUMAN RIGHTS AWARDS - Spera
Rozanski, Spera, and Narayanan were the commissioners in attendance at this event.
There were a number of employees from C.H. Robinson in attendance so Spera
invited all of them to come forward when the award was presented, and the mayor
shook all of their hands. Darryl Stanton’s family was also in attendance. Koivumaki
wrote a nice paragraph about each recipient. The event was followed by a cake
reception.
VII. REPORTS FROM COMMISSION MEMBERS
Spera shared some recent stories she found disturbing concerning hate crimes noting we
have a long ways to go in the area of human rights. Kaczmarek noted it is still legal in 29
states to fire employees for being gay. Spera replied some federal courts have determined
it is illegal to discriminate against GLBT persons because this falls under discrimination
based on sexual stereotypes, hence superceding the law in many of those states. In
addition, the U.S. Department of Education has posted on its website GLBT students may
not be discriminated against based on the same interpretation.
VIII. FUTURE MEETINGS/EVENTS
The next HRDC meeting will be Thursday, September 13, 2012, 7 p.m. at Eden Prairie
Center, Room 125.
City Council is hosting a community meeting focusing on international residents on
September 11. Commissioners are encouraged to attend. More information to follow.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Spera adjourned the meeting at 7:40 p.m.