Transgender advocates slam Pawlenty over Newsweek interview
By Andy Birkey 12/28/09 10:11 AM
http://minnesotaindependent.com/52507/transgender-advocates-slam-pawlenty-over-newsweek-interviewpawlentyThe National Center for Transgender Equality (NTCE) slammed Gov. Pawlenty last week for his telling Newsweek that Minnesota's laws protecting transgender people from employment discrimination should be changed. Pawlenty called the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act "overbaked" because "if you are a third-grade teacher and you are a man and you show up on Monday as Mr. Johnson and you show up on Tuesday as Mrs. Johnson, that is a little confusing to the kids," he said. "So I don't like that."
"In this interview, Governor Pawlenty disrespects the professionalism of Minnesota teachers, including transgender teachers, and is willing to use children as a shield from criticism for his change in position about anti-discrimination legislation," NTCE said in a statement. "What cynical maneuvering on his part."
-----------------------
Pawlenty angers transgender group with Newsweek comments
By Hart Van Denburg in @pawlenty watch
Mon., Dec. 28 2009 @ 12:30PM
http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2009/12/pawlenty_roils.phpThat "most intriguing" Newsweek with Tim "nobody knows who I am" Pawlenty has seriously pissed off a national transgender rights organization with his assertion that little kids are going to be "confused" because of legislation he once signed.
"When asked by Newsweek how his views have evolved over time, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (and possible GOP 2012 Presidential candidate) responded by turning his back on the anti-discrimination ordinance he himself had voted for in 1993," says a post on the National Center for Transgender Equality's blog. (Hat tip Minnesota Independent.)
