Allan Henry Spear (June 24, 1937 – October 11, 2008) was an American politician and educator from Minnesota who served almost thirty years in the Minnesota Senate, including nearly a decade as President of the Senate.
Spear was born to a Jewish family in Michigan City, Indiana.[1] A graduate of Oberlin College (B.A., 1958), he went on to earn an M.A. and a PhD from Yale University (1960 and 1965 respectively). Decades later, Oberlin would also award him an honorary LL.D.[2] He was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1972, representing a liberal Minneapolis district centered on the University of Minnesota. He served a total of 28 years in the senate, retiring in 2000. He was President of the Senate from 1992 to 2000.
Spear served in the Minnesota Senate representing two Senate districts in Minneapolis. From 1972 to 1982, he represented District 57, the southeast part of Minneapolis, including the University of Minnesota main campus. In 1982, he moved to District 59, the southwest part of Minneapolis, (renamed to District 60 after the 1992 redistricting[2]) and was elected Senator from there, and was reelected until his retirement in 2000.
Spear came out on December 9, 1974,[3] and was one of the first openly gay Americans serving in elected office. His coming out drew national attention, being featured in The New York Times amongst others.[citation needed]
1990s and lateredit
Spear was instrumental in passing the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act, which guaranteed protection from discrimination in education, employment, and housing to LGBT[4] Minnesotans. He had been working on this for nearly 20 years, and later called it his "proudest legislative achievement." His personal connections with other senators during his years in office were important in gaining the votes of Republican colleagues. He gained the public support of the leader of the Senate Republicans, Lutheran minister Dean E. Johnson, who gave a speech supporting the bill on the Senate floor (and was later "censured" by his local Republican party officials, and eventually forced out of the Republican party).[5]
In 2008, as part of Minnesota's Sesquicentennial celebration, the Minnesota Historical Society named him as one of the 150 people and groups that helped shape the state. Allan Spear died on October 11, 2008, from complications following heart surgery earlier that week.[6] He was survived by his partner of 26 years, Junjiro Tsuji, who died on March 13, 2019.[7]
He had partially completed an autobiography (Crossing the BarriersISBN9780816670406) at his death; a colleague of his in the Minnesota Senate, John Watson Milton, provided an afterword listing the accomplishments of his later years. This book was published in 2010.[8]
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
^ ab"Minnesota Legislative Reference Library: Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved February 22, 2008.
^Booth, Karen Louise (July 4, 2000). . Archived from the original on April 26, 2005. Retrieved March 21, 2007.
^. Archived from the original on October 5, 2011. Retrieved October 13, 2008. This was the first United States state law protecting transgender people.
^Preston, Joshua. "Allan Spear and the Minnesota Human Rights Act." Minnesota History 65 (2016): 76-87.
^. October 12, 2008. Archived from the original on December 3, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2008.
^Kim Palmer (March 29, 2019). "Salon owner and senator's longtime partner, Junjiro 'Jun' Tsuji, dies at 78". The Star Tribune. from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
^. October 30, 2010. Archived from the original on July 25, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.
External linksedit
Biographical entry at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library
Allan Spear Papers are available for research use at the
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Allan Henry Spear June 24 1937 October 11 2008 was an American politician and educator from Minnesota who served almost thirty years in the Minnesota Senate including nearly a decade as President of the Senate Allan H Spear7th President of the Minnesota SenateIn office January 1993 January 2001Preceded byJerome M HughesSucceeded byDon SamuelsonMember of the Minnesota Senate from the 57th then 59th then 60th districtIn office 1973 2001Personal detailsBorn 1937 06 24 June 24 1937Michigan City IndianaDiedOctober 11 2008 2008 10 11 aged 71 Minneapolis MinnesotaPolitical partyMinnesota Democratic Farmer Labor PartySpouseJunjiro Tsuji Contents 1 Biography 1 1 1990s and later 2 References 3 External linksBiography editSpear was born to a Jewish family in Michigan City Indiana 1 A graduate of Oberlin College B A 1958 he went on to earn an M A and a PhD from Yale University 1960 and 1965 respectively Decades later Oberlin would also award him an honorary LL D 2 He was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1972 representing a liberal Minneapolis district centered on the University of Minnesota He served a total of 28 years in the senate retiring in 2000 He was President of the Senate from 1992 to 2000 Spear served in the Minnesota Senate representing two Senate districts in Minneapolis From 1972 to 1982 he represented District 57 the southeast part of Minneapolis including the University of Minnesota main campus In 1982 he moved to District 59 the southwest part of Minneapolis renamed to District 60 after the 1992 redistricting 2 and was elected Senator from there and was reelected until his retirement in 2000 Spear came out on December 9 1974 3 and was one of the first openly gay Americans serving in elected office His coming out drew national attention being featured in The New York Times amongst others citation needed 1990s and later edit Spear was instrumental in passing the 1993 Minnesota Human Rights Act which guaranteed protection from discrimination in education employment and housing to LGBT 4 Minnesotans He had been working on this for nearly 20 years and later called it his proudest legislative achievement His personal connections with other senators during his years in office were important in gaining the votes of Republican colleagues He gained the public support of the leader of the Senate Republicans Lutheran minister Dean E Johnson who gave a speech supporting the bill on the Senate floor and was later censured by his local Republican party officials and eventually forced out of the Republican party 5 In 2008 as part of Minnesota s Sesquicentennial celebration the Minnesota Historical Society named him as one of the 150 people and groups that helped shape the state Allan Spear died on October 11 2008 from complications following heart surgery earlier that week 6 He was survived by his partner of 26 years Junjiro Tsuji who died on March 13 2019 7 He had partially completed an autobiography Crossing the Barriers ISBN 9780816670406 at his death a colleague of his in the Minnesota Senate John Watson Milton provided an afterword listing the accomplishments of his later years This book was published in 2010 8 References edit Oberlin College LGBT Community History Project Personal Histories Archived from the original on June 23 2018 Retrieved June 23 2018 a b Minnesota Legislative Reference Library Minnesota Legislators Past amp Present Archived from the original on January 3 2020 Retrieved February 22 2008 Booth Karen Louise July 4 2000 Minnesota s Spear calls it a day Archived from the original on April 26 2005 Retrieved March 21 2007 Minnesota Statutes definition of sexual orientation Archived from the original on October 5 2011 Retrieved October 13 2008 This was the first United States state law protecting transgender people Preston Joshua Allan Spear and the Minnesota Human Rights Act Minnesota History 65 2016 76 87 Longtime State Senator Allan Spear Dies October 12 2008 Archived from the original on December 3 2008 Retrieved October 12 2008 Kim Palmer March 29 2019 Salon owner and senator s longtime partner Junjiro Jun Tsuji dies at 78 The Star Tribune Archived from the original on September 29 2022 Retrieved April 21 2023 University of Minnesota Press info October 30 2010 Archived from the original on July 25 2010 Retrieved December 6 2010 External links editBiographical entry at the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library Allan Spear Papers are available for research use at the Minnesota Historical Society Political offices Preceded byJerome M Hughes President of the Minnesota Senate1993 2001 Succeeded byDon Samuelson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allan Spear amp oldid 1216057963, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
