Andy Birkey

New Journalist Fellow

Andy Birkey covers lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues, local
politics, religion and reproductive health for the Minnesota Independent.
He has almost a decade of experience working to empower Minnesotans to
be knowledgeable about their sexual health and to create healthy,
responsible and sex-positive communities.

Brand-New “Moderate”: Minnesota Rep. Paulsen Runs from His Record

Andy Birkey

During 14 years in the Minnesota Legislature, State Rep. Erik Paulsen strongly supported attacks on reproductive health care. You won't hear him mentioning that in his run for Congress.

Religious Right Watch: Sarah Palin At A Glance

Andy Birkey

While support for Gov. Sarah Palin from the religious right has been huge, Palin has also suffered some criticism from members of the pro-family movement.

Protesters Plague Pro-Life RNC Party

Andy Birkey

Religious right gadfly Phyllis Schlafly organized a “Life of the Party” party on Tuesday for pro-life delegates and politicians at the RNC.

Evangelicals Push for More Palaver on Abortion

Andy Birkey

As the electorate focuses on economic downturn, high energy prices and war, evangelicals are promising to turn the election rhetoric to abortion and gay marriage.

Minnesota’s Home-Grown Christian Right

Andy Birkey

The Minnesota Family Council maintains a great deal of influence in Minnesota politics, especially among Republicans, but just who is the Council and where did they come from?

Religious Right’s Old Guard to Make Strong Showing at the RNC

Andy Birkey

Though John McCain struggles to excite the religious right, many of its leaders will make the trip to St. Paul to showcase the movement at the Republican National Convention.

Gov. Pawlenty and the Evangelicals: Where He Stands on Hot-Button Issues

Andy Birkey

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's evangelicalism has become one of the planks in pundit-class conventional wisdom about his chances of winding up John McCain's running mate. What has the governor said and done over the years on evangelicals' pet issues?

Minnesota Lawmakers Fight Proposed HHS Regs

Andy Birkey

Minnesota lawmakers overwhelmingly passed legislation last year to ensure the availability of emergency contraception to rape survivors. Under new proposed regulations, those women could be denied appropriate treatment.

Republicans Call for an End to Planned Parenthood’s Federal Funding

Andy Birkey

Congressional Republicans took the floor last week to call for the federal defunding of Planned Parenthood because the network of reproductive health care clinics offer abortion services.

To Combat Rising STI Rates, Minnesota Lawmakers Legalize Patient-Delivered Partner Therapy

Andy Birkey

The increasing incidence of STD diagnoses in Minnesota is prompting lawmakers and public health departments to come up with strategies to address the emerging epidemic.

Andy Birkey

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