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State Representative Michael Paymar
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-4199
For more information contact: Michael Howard 651-296-8873
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DFL legislators file protest after Bradlee Dean prayer scrubbed from record
State Rep. Michael Paymar (DFL – St. Paul) and DFL legislators filed an official protest and dissent regarding the selection of Bradlee Dean as House Chaplain as well as the decision by the Speaker of the House to scrub Dean’s prayer from the official House record. The dissent appears in the official House Journal for Saturday, May 21st, ensuring a record of Bradlee Dean’s appearance on the Minnesota House floor is preserved.
The text of the dissent is listed below. You can read the protest and dissent as it appears in the House Journal online at http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/journals/2011-12/J0521062.pdf (Page 4921)
“Pursuant to Article IV, Section 11 of the Minnesota Constitution, we the undersigned members register our protest and dissent regarding the selection of Bradlee Dean as Chaplain for the Day on May 20, 2011. Mr. Dean, by his own admission during the invocation, intentionally violated the House policy on offering nondenominational prayers. Mr. Dean has a history of making inflammatory, extremist, and prejudicial public comments about the gay and lesbian community.
In his conduct, Mr. Dean offended many in the House of Representatives and the public with his invocation. His reference to President Barack Obama and his religious views was misleading and disrespectful. While the Speaker of the House apologized to the body, we the undersigned protest and dissent the selection of Bradlee Dean as Chaplain for the Day. His actions brought dishonor to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
America and Minnesota's greatness comes from a tradition of religious tolerance and respect and the pursuit of civil and human rights for all oppressed peoples. We forcefully protest and dissent the selection of Bradlee Dean as Chaplain for the Day. Furthermore, we the undersigned protest and dissent the action of the Speaker of the House in expunging from the Journal of the House any and all reference to Mr. Dean's actions as Chaplain for the Day.
We request that House Leadership examine the process for vetting the Chaplain for the Day so that prayers offered on the House floor are nondenominational and consistent with the values of religious tolerance and respect for all Americans regardless of race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This protest and dissent shall serve as the official recording of Bradlee Dean's actions as Chaplain for the Day in the Journal of the House."
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