Project 515 commissioned legal research conducted by Professor Anthony Winer and others at the William Mitchell College of Law to determine the extent to which Minnesota statutes treat families differently. Unequal Under the Law: 515 Ways Minnesota Laws Discriminate Against Couples and Families was published in October 2007 and outlines 515 statutes that provide rights and assign responsibilities to couples based on the legal definition of marriage. As a result, these laws exclude domestic partners who aren’t married, even if they have made lifelong commitments. For gay and lesbian couples, marriage isn’t a legal option. But their families and children still suffer significantly from this unfairness.
First and foremost, this report is about people – not politics. This list of laws and the stories of Minnesota families affected by them are meant to broaden understanding about the importance of fairness and equality under the law. They also provide encouragement to lawmakers to seek fairness in all state statutes.
In 2010, Project 515 published an update: Still Unequal Under the Law
