Today, anti-gay extremist Bradlee Dean, on the invitation of a House Republican, gave the opening prayer for today’s session of the Minnesota House:

As protesters chanted against an anti-gay marriage amendment outside the House chamber Friday morning, controversial pastor Bradlee Dean took to the House rostrum to give the prayer for the day.

According to those present, Dean, who has suggested he approves of the death penalty for gay people on a radio show, was accusatory toward Democrats and insulting to people who do not believe in Jesus.

The House session broke down as leaders huddled with their staff members to discuss what to do. Republicans huddled in a caucus meeting for more than an hour.

Bradlee Dean is a disgusting, hate-filled bigot. It’s right for Speaker Kurt Zellers to apologize for and condemn Dean’s remarks. But that apology cannot hide the long association between the Republican Party of Minnesota and Bradlee Dean. For the uninitiated, here’s a history of Minnesota Republicans supporting and promoting Dean.

JUST WEEKS AGO, Republican Senator Paul Gazelka appeared on Bradlee Dean’s radio show

• Paul Gazelka stood by while Bradlee Dean accused GLBT Americans of “doing the hating” on the marriage amendment issue, saying, “It’s them that are doing the hating. They did it to Jesus Christ.”
• MORE DEAN: “[Homosexuality] has been illegal since the foundation of our country. It has been illegal. It’s the conceived sin of homosexuality. The end of sin is death and that’s exactly what [homosexuality] does.”

IN 2010, Bradlee Dean’s anti-gay ministry had a booth at the Republican Party of Minnesota’s convention.

• Bradlee Dean states that Republican Party of Minnesota Chair Tony Sutton invited his ministry to attend the convention
• Candidate Tom Emmer was forced to distance himself from Bradlee Dean during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign
• Candidate Tom Emmer calls Bradlee Dean’s ministry a group of “nice people”
• Former Secretary of State candidate, state Representative and current Senate candidate Dan Severson appears on Bradlee Dean’s radio show

IN 2009, Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer attended a fundraiser for Bradlee Dean’s anti-gay ministry

• Representative Michele Bachmann delivered a video message to fundraiser attendees: “It a tough job that you do, but someone has to do it.” 
• Bradlee Dean says Tom Emmer ”has been out to my house”
• Tom Emmer’s House campaign committee donated $250 to Bradlee Dean’s ministry

IN 2007, former Secretary of State and current Representative Mary Kiffmeyer served as master of cermonies for an event honoring Bradlee Dean’s ministry

• Mary Kiffmeyer: “They’re not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, and their country, to preach it, and using that exercise of their freedom”
• Bradlee Dean at the same event: The Pope is “a devil disguised as a minister of righteousness”
• Dean’s speech also compared the teaching of evolution to the ideology of Hitler

IN 2006, Michele Bachmann led a prayer for Bradlee Dean’s anti-gay ministry

• Bachmann: “Lord, I thank you for what you have done with this ministry”

TIM PAWLENTY is listed as a guest on Bradlee Dean’s radio show, along with many other local Republicans and conservatives:

• Photo of Tim Pawlenty with Bradlee Dean’s radio co-host, Jake McMillan

Is there more? Oh, yes. Republicans insist on continuing their association with and support of Bradlee Dean despite his long record of violent, bigoted, hateful remarks. Next time Republicans tell you they just didn’t know that Bradlee Dean is a hateful extremist, ask them where they’ve been for the past five years.

[Post updated to add Mary Kiffmeyer’s connection to Bradlee Dean]

[Post updated to add Dan Severson and Tim Pawlenty’s connections to Bradlee Dean]