The Commission was established to serve all citizens to promote equal opportunity in housing, education, employment, public services and public accommodations. The Commission is designed to provide services and assistance to individuals and groups of Red Wing residents in an effort to enhance human rights and to prevent discrimination. It develops formal and informal education programs to assist in the implementation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act and to assume a role of leadership in recognizing and resolving potential problems in the community. The Minnesota Department of Human Rights was established in 1967 to implement, enforce, and administer the Minnesota Human Rights Act, and Minnesota Statutes Chapter 363 as amended. It is a cabinet-level department reporting directly to the Governor.
Enforcement consists of intake and case processing.
These units are responsible for investigating charges and making recommendations on charge findings and case disposition. The Department enforces the human rights ordinance and conducts education and outreach. The ordinance prohibits discrimination in employment, education, real property, public accommodations and services, contracts, and franchises against the federally protected classes and on the basis of creed, sexual or affectional orientation, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.