The organizer of the annual Twin Cities Pride
Celebration has sued the Star Tribune, accusing the newspaper of discrimination and breach of contract for refusing to publish ads for the festival.
The advertisements showed two men kissing. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Hennepin County District Court, said the newspaper applied different standards to GLBT/Pride Twin Cities because the
newspaper had published ads depicting a heterosexual couple kissing.
The lawsuit also contends the newspaper breached its advertising contract, and retaliated by failing to publish any of its advertisements, including one that did not contain an image of
same-sex kissing.
The lawsuit said the Star Tribune cited a policy on community standards as its reason for refusing to publish the ads.
A complaint the group filed with the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights was dismissed on the grounds that the commission did not have jurisdiction.
"After an extensive investigation by the Minneapolis Commission on Civil Rights, we prevailed and we expect to prevail in Hennepin
County District Court. Our position remains the same," said Ben Taylor, senior vice president of marketing and communications for the Star Tribune.
Jim Kelley, president of GLBT/Pride Twin Cities, said: "We hope to address this with the Star Tribune and reach a resolution."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
