It’s no secret that conservatives across the country are pushing extreme anti-LGBTQ+ policies that include everything from rolling back access to health care for LGBTQ+ folks to dismantling Title IX protections for trans athletes. But in Minnesota, progressive lawmakers continue to protect LGBTQ+ people and fight for our communities.
A Ban on Conversion Therapy
Minnesota’s progressives shepherded a bill through conservative opposition that banned conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth and vulnerable adults. The state can actively investigate and pursue civil enforcement actions against conversion therapy providers.
Physicians widely discredit conversion therapy, and studies show these types of anti-LGBTQ treatments cause more harm than good for young Minnesotans and vulnerable people.
A UCLA report found that transgender people who experienced conversion therapy are almost twice as likely to attempt suicide as their peers.
Minnesota is the 21st state to prohibit conversion therapy, making our state a safer place for all people.
A Trans Refuge
Minnesota lawmakers also passed a proposal to make Minnesota a Trans Refuge State. This crucial legislation protects transgender people, their families, and medical practitioners from legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota to receive gender-affirming care.
News of Minnesota’s status as a Trans Refuge State is spreading, motivating many people to make Minnesota their new home. This summer, a couple reunited at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport after they both fled persecution in Russia. One of them, a trans man named Erik Beda, said, “It’s an obvious fact that Minnesota is a refuge for trans people, so we had no doubts that we had to go.”
Progressives have worked tirelessly to make Minnesota a safe, accessible place for all people to seek the care they need without the threat of repercussion. These wins help make Minnesota a safer place for LGBTQ+ people and their families to thrive.
The Fight Isn’t Over
While Minnesota is a refuge for many LGBTQ+ people in the Midwest, there is still much progress to be made.
Right now the Minnesota Supreme Court is considering a transgender weightlifting lawsuit, and their decision could have wide-ranging implications.
JayCee Cooper, a transgender woman from Minneapolis, was denied entry into a women’s USA Powerlifting competition in 2019. Her lawsuit claims discrimination in violation of the Minnesota Human Rights Act.
An additional element to this case is the potential for the court to undo its 2001 decision in Goins v. West Group, a case that set a standard in legal cases across the country regarding transgender rights in public accommodations.
Currently, there is no set timetable for when the Minnesota Supreme Court will issue its opinion.
Stay with us in the fight to build a better Minnesota.
2024 wasn’t a cakewalk for progressives, but Minnesotans stood up once again to fight for our communities and deliver victories, big and small, from the United States Congress to our local state parks, that will keep Minnesota values at the forefront.
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