Trump Administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a case Doug Wardlow originally argued, to allow LGBTQ people to be fired for who they are
Throughout his life, Wardlow has fought to discriminate against Minnesotans based on who they are
MINNESOTA – Today, Congressman Keith Ellison, candidate for Minnesota Attorney General, and LGBT elected officials denounced Republican candidate Doug Wardlow’s record of discrimination which is headed for the United States Supreme Court.
“Minnesotans believe that everyone should be treated fairly, regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation,” said Ellison. “Doug Wardlow’s career of discrimination has now caught the attention of President Trump, and threatens to allow LGBT people across the country to be fired simply for being who they are. Our state needs an Attorney General who will enforce the rights of all, not enact a political purge to push a discriminatory agenda.”
Yesterday, the Trump Administration announced that it would ask the United States Supreme Court to rule that businesses can discriminate against workers based on their gender identity. The case the Trump Administration is asking the Court to consider was originally argued by Doug Wardlow on behalf of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), an anti-LGBTQ hate group, to uphold the discriminatory firing of a funeral home employee in Michigan.
“Minnesotans should not have to fear that their job, housing, or health could be jeopardized simply for who they love or who they are,” said Phillipe Cunningham, Minneapolis City Councilmember. “I urge Minnesotans to support Keith Ellison, a longtime champion of the rights of all, and to reject Wardlow’s hateful and discriminatory agenda.”
Just last week, Wardlow’s hate group was in our state, arguing against the Attorney General to allow for discrimination in Minnesota. At the KSTP debate this past weekend, Wardlow claimed to not know the details of the case, but Wardlow’s record of discrimination make clear where he stands.
“Doug Wardlow has made a career out of discriminating against those he disagrees with,” said State Representative Erin Maye Quade.“Wardlow believes Minnesotans should be rejected from a job simply for who they are. I believe the majority of Minnesotans will reject Wardlow from the job of Attorney General, for his lifelong record of discrimination. We need elected officials who will stand up for all Minnesotans, not push through a private hateful agenda in the courts.”
Wardlow has brought this same discriminatory spirit to his work in Minnesota on behalf of the organization. While working for ADF, Wardlow argued before the Anoka-Hennepin School District to urge them to ban LGBTQ students from accessing services that matched their identity. This followed an earlier lawsuit and consent decree over a spate of student suicides amidst a culture of anti-LGBTQ bullying and discrimination at the district.
“In his one term in the Minnesota House, Doug Wardlow pushed hateful and prejudicial policies against LGBTQ Minnesotans,” said State Senator Scott Dibble. “Now, his discriminatory actions are assisting President Trump and the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court in their attempts to further endanger the rights of LGBTQ Americans across the entire country. Doug Wardlow’s values are clear, and they are not values Minnesotans share.”
Before working with ADF, Wardlow served one term in the Minnesota House, where he was a vocal champion for efforts to discriminate against LGBTQ people, including the constitutional amendment that Minnesotans rejected, which would have banned marriage equality in Minnesota.
Minnesota’s next Attorney General must be someone who will protect and defend the rights of all Minnesotans, not bring a divisive and discriminatory agenda to the top law enforcement office in the state.