Minn. Kampf - Politics - Minnesota state representative Arlon Lindner - Brief Article

It was bad enough when Minnesota state representative Arlon Lindner introduced a bill that would repeal the state's pro-gay human rights amendment and remove sexual orientation from its hate-crimes law. But then the Republican went on to suggest that the Nazis did not persecute gay people during World War II.

In an attempt to explain himself March 10, Lindner offended even more people. "What I am trying to prevent is the holocaust of our children getting STDs, AIDS, and various other diseases that are going to affect their lives," he said on the house floor. "If you want to sit around here and wait until America becomes another African continent, well, then, you do that, but I'm going to do something about it."

He may have trouble doing anything about it in the state legislature, though. Several of Lindner's colleagues have filed ethics complaints against him previously, and house speaker Steve Sviggum said he had considered stripping him of his leadership position but decided against it.

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