WHILE THE COLD OF MINNESOTA winters is still the stuff of legends, the political climate is a little warmer than many other places in the country. But even with more favorable conditions for the GLBT community, a recent study identified a staggering 515 statutes on the Minnesota law books that discriminate against committed but unmarried couples, ranging from family law, health care, and pensions to corporations, farming, labor, military, and more. Rising to the challenge to change those 515 discriminatory laws, the aptly named Project 515 was founded just over a year ago.

Project 515’s goal is simple: make sure same-gender couples have equal rights and considerations under Minnesota law. Its core principles are common sense and reasonable, focusing on the beliefs that every family should be valued and respected, treated fairly in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces, and that they should all share similar obligations and responsibilities. The vast majority of Minnesotans would agree with Project 515’s credo. A survey, conducted by Minneapolis-based Decision Resources, Ltd., found that nearly eight out of ten Minnesotans said government should treat people no differently because of their sexual orientation. The survey also showed that almost 70 percent of Minnesotans agreed that “gays and lesbians should have the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else.” Suffice it to say, Minnesota laws don’t reflect the viewpoint of the majority of its citizenry.

In its first year Project 515 commissioned, published, and distributed to all Minnesota legislators a critical report, Unequal Under the Law: 515 Ways Minnesota Laws Discriminate Against Couples and Families. The goal in sending this comprehensive account was to inform legislators about the extensive discrimination that exists in current Minnesota law. More than creating another report to be filed, Project 515 leaders met with 46 House members and 28 Senators to highlight key provisions of the landmark report.

With dozens of organizations in the Twin Cities focusing on the GLBT community, one might ask what sets Project 515 apart. Executive Director, Laura Smidzik, is no stranger to leadership in the GLBT community. She will tell you that “Project 515 is the only advocacy organization solely focused on working toward relationship equality for same-sex couples and families.” After serving as executive director of Rainbow Families, a Twin Cities organization supporting GLBT parents, she has seen first-hand countless instances of blatant and heart-rending discrimination. The need for Project 515 couldn’t be clearer from her vantage. Her experience at Rainbow Families has also made her adept at partnering with other advocacy organizations to capitalize on their strengths while focusing on 515’s core mission of relationship equality. “We have the distinct advantage of a single focus, a clear message,” Smidzik explains.

Her board of directors, all community leaders in their own right, are certainly focused on the mission as well, but they also have the unique blend of well developed government relations and communications skills that raise the bar on clear organizational direction and effectiveness uniquely suited to Project 515’s aim. “This level of focus,” says Smidzik, “keeps Project 515 on message.” Project 515 leaders also meet with everyday Minnesotans to put relationship equality on the table for both civic and dinnertime conversation. A recent outreach to the Rochester community was met with unqualified success. Smidzik recounts, “All the organizations in Rochester were happy to come to the table with us and were struck with the message we brought to them: simply wanting to make Minnesota a more fair state.”

While Project 515 is clearly involved with the legislature, it is neither partisan nor does it have a political action committee, making their funds more effective since Project 515 works with existing legislators to accomplish its mission. With the general election looming on the horizon, knowing how to effectively lobby these lawmakers is critical, but it’s clear that the leadership of this fledgling organization has the direction, the know-how, and the right mix of people to navigate the halls of the Capitol. Whether the gay marriage debate becomes yet another wedge issue is moot for Project 515 since the basis in the law of equality of a same-gender relationship remains calmly in its cross-hairs.

To learn more about Project 515 or to download the report on Minnesota’s discriminatory laws presented to legislators, visit www.project515.org.