ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- When state Sen. Dean Johnson voted to
protect the rights of Minnesota's homosexuals, the Republican lost
friends who warned he'd become a pariah in his hometown.  
   "It is the right thing to do," said Johnson, a Lutheran minister
from rural Willmar, 90 miles west of St. Paul. "Not because we totally
understand, but because we want to be a state that doesn't discriminate
against its people."  
   This may seem natural for historically tolerant Minnesota.
Elsewhere, a tide is turning against gay rights.  
   The legislation Johnson voted for, which would make Minnesota the
eighth state to adopt gay rights guarantees, is in conference committee
with votes expected later this week in the House and Senate. Gov. Arne
Carlson has said he will sign the measure.  
   While similar legislation was filed this year in at least 11 other
states, efforts to counter gay rights are under way in seven states.  
   "The gay and lesbian movement is in a new era," said Robin Kane,
spokeswoman for The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington,
ticking off gains in state civil rights legislation and an ally in the
Clinton administration.  
   Two decades of pushing for civil rights protection for homosexuals
have produced statewide guarantees on housing, employment and the like
in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont
and Wisconsin. Similar measures have been approved in the District of
Columbia and other major U.S. cities, and for government workers in 10
states. 
   "However, we are also facing a tremendous backlash from the right
wing ... to shut the closet door on the gay and lesbian movement," Kane
said.  
   Opponents of specific civil rights protection for homosexuals are
raising money and gathering signatures hoping to get measures banning
gay rights on statewide ballots next year in California, Florida,
Idaho, Oregon and Michigan among other states.  
   More immediately, on April 20, voters in Anchorage, Alaska, will
decide whether to throw out gay rights protection their City Assembly
gave to municipal employees.  
   Anti-gay rights bills currently proposed in the Rhode Island
legislature would bar civil rights protection "solely in response to
his or her behavior."  
   In Oregon, in addition to a 1994 statewide ballot measure, the
Oregon Citizen Alliance is working to get anti-gay rights measures on
ballots in more than 30 county and municipal elections this year.  
   Colorado voters decided in November to repeal gay rights ordinances
and ban any such laws. The matter is being challenged before the
Colorado Supreme Court.  
   The Colorado referendum prompted a boycott that has cost the state a
$34 million in canceled conventions, but at the same time it inspired
hope for gay rights opponents. So did the successful repeal of gay
rights in Tampa, Fla., last November and the near-success of an Oregon
referendum that would have denounced homosexuality as perverse in that
state's constitution.  
   Gay rights, for and against, is on agendas around the country:  
   -- ALASKA: Anchorage referendum April 20 seeks repeal of measure
protecting rights of homosexuals working for city and its contractors. 
   -- CALIFORNIA: Statewide anti-gay rights ballot measure proposed for
1994.  
   -- FLORIDA: Statewide anti-gay rights ballot measure proposed for
1994.  
   -- IDAHO: Statewide anti-gay rights ballot measure proposed for
1994.  
   -- ILLINOIS: House committee approved ban on bias against
homosexuals in housing and employment.  
   -- MAINE: Joint legislative committee considering prohibition on
bias against homosexuals in jobs, housing, credit and public
accommodations.  
   -- MICHIGAN: Statewide anti-gay rights ballot measure proposed for
1994.  
   -- MINNESOTA: Legislature adding sexual orientation to state human
rights law is in conference, awaiting House and Senate votes later this
week. Gov. Arne Arneson's supports the legislation.  
   -- NEW YORK: Assembly-passed bill now before Senate to add sexual
orientation to the state's civil rights law, banning discrimination in
jobs, housing, public accommodation and education.  
   -- NEBRASKA: Bills propose adding sexual orientation to the state
Fair Employment Practices Act.  
   -- NEW MEXICO: Senate passed bill, but it died in House committee,
that would have added sexual orientation to state human rights act,
barring bias in housing, jobs, credit, public accommodations and union
membership.  
   -- OREGON: Oregon Citizens Alliance hopes to get anti-gay rights
ballot measures in more than 30 municipal and county elections, May 18,
June 29 and Sept. 21. Also wants statewide anti-gay rights ballot
measure for 1994.  
   -- RHODE ISLAND: Legislative committee considering ban on bias
against homosexuals in credit, housing, employment and public
accommodations.  
   Anti-gay rights bills propose barring protection under state civil
rights law for anyone "solely in response to his or her behavior."  
   -- TEXAS: House bill would bar bias based on sexual orientation in
most circumstances involving housing, employment and public
accommodation.  
   -- WASHINGTON: House-passed bill, now in Senate, would bar bias
against homosexuals in employment, housing, public accommodations,
credit and insurance.  
   -- WEST VIRGINIA: House bill would include sexual orientation under
state Human Rights Act.