Treat people the way you want to be treated.
The Golden Rule is not complicated: treat people the way you want to be treated.
That does not change based on who someone loves, how they identify, what their family looks like, or where they were born.
Erik believes every person in Western Minnesota should be treated with dignity, respect, and equal protection under the law.
That is not about political fashion. It is about equal protection under the law.
LGBTQ+ Minnesotans are part of every community in this district. They are neighbors, farmers, veterans, teachers, small business owners, parents, students, coworkers, and friends. They help make our communities what they are.
Erik will represent every person in this district — not just the people who vote the right way, worship the right way, or live the way someone else thinks they should.
Equal rights means equal rights.
Race, Religion, Creed, and Country of Origin are all protected differences under the Constitution. The “othering” used by career politicians needs to stop. The forces of division & greed need to be stopped. Erik pledges to fight for individual liberties of all those he seeks to serve.
Erik believes the reports of racism’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Federal agents have been targeting Americans based on the color of their skin. The way many talk about certain groups of people is downright cruel. Genuine hatred is all around us, and that leads to suffering. Erik doesn’t believe the GPS coordinates of your mother at the time of your birth should determine your value as a human being.
No exceptions.
Erik’s Priorities
Erik will fight to:
- Defend equal protection under the law for every constituent
- Oppose discrimination in housing, employment, education, healthcare, and public life
- Support federal baseline protections so rights do not depend on ZIP code
- Protect marriage equality and the legal stability families rely on
- Oppose efforts to single out LGBTQ+ Americans for unequal treatment
- Respect the role of families, medical professionals, and local communities in personal decisions
- Represent LGBTQ+ Minnesotans with the same dignity, respect, and accountability owed to every constituent
…by governing by a simple standard: every person in Western Minnesota should be treated with dignity, protected equally under the law, and represented by someone who shows up for them. No matter who they are, who they love, or what kind of family they call home.
Equal Protection Under the Law
The Fourteenth Amendment guarantees equal protection under the law.
That promise should mean what it says.
Erik believes every person should be treated fairly by their government and protected from discrimination. Rights should not depend on where you live, who you are, who you love, or whether your identity is popular with the people in power.
Equal protection is not a slogan.
It is a constitutional commitment.
Stop Discrimination
No one should be fired, denied housing, refused service, bullied out of public life, or treated as less than because of who they are.
Erik supports federal nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans in employment, housing, education, healthcare, and public accommodations.
These protections are about making sure people can work, live, learn, seek care, and participate in their communities without fear of being targeted or excluded.
That is basic fairness.
Protect Marriage Equality
Marriage equality is settled law, and families across the country rely on the legal stability it provides.
Erik supports marriage equality and will oppose efforts to weaken or reverse it.
Every family should have the dignity, recognition, and legal protection they need to build a life, care for one another, raise children, make medical decisions, and plan for the future.
Families are families.
They should not have to wonder whether their rights will be taken away by the next court, Congress, or administration.
Reject Politically Motivated Division
Erik believes too many politicians use LGBTQ+ people as targets in order to distract, divide, and score political points.
That is wrong.
Real people are hurt when their lives are turned into campaign strategy. Kids hear it. Families feel it. Communities become less safe and less welcoming.
Erik will not participate in that kind of politics.
He believes public leaders should solve real problems, lower costs, protect rights, strengthen communities, and treat people with decency — not pick on vulnerable people for political gain.
Respect Transgender Minnesotans
Transgender Minnesotans deserve dignity, safety, and equal protection under the law.
That includes transgender youth, who are often at the center of political fights they did not ask for.
Erik believes personal decisions involving young people should be handled with care, compassion, and respect for the people closest to the situation — families, medical professionals, educators, and local communities — not by federal politicians chasing headlines from Washington.
His standard is simple: treat people with dignity, protect their rights, and do not use vulnerable kids as political props.
Support Every Family
Families come in many forms.
Some families have a mom and a dad. Some have two moms or two dads. Some are led by grandparents, relatives, single parents, adoptive parents, foster parents, or people who step up when a child needs them.
Erik believes every family should be treated with dignity and fairness.
Government should help families stay safe, stable, and supported — not decide that some families count less than others.
Represent Every Constituent
Western Minnesota’s LGBTQ+ community is not separate from Western Minnesota.
They are part of our towns, schools, farms, churches, workplaces, small businesses, and neighborhoods. They are people who grew up here, people who came home, and people who are building lives here.
Erik believes representation means showing up for every constituent.
Not just the ones who agree with you.
Not just the ones who fit someone else’s idea of what a family or community should look like.
Every person.
No exceptions.
Erik Wants to Hear From You
Equal rights are not abstract. They affect people’s jobs, homes, families, healthcare, safety, and daily lives.
If you want to share your perspective or your story, Erik wants to hear it.