This pride month, we’re celebrating transgender Minnesotans and their right to live joyfully and freely. Unfortunately, Minnesota conservatives did the opposite this legislative session. This year alone, Minnesota conservatives introduced 14 bills that target transgender Minnesotans. These bills try to ban gender-affirming care and erase trans people from public life. But it’s not just happening in Minnesota. Conservative lawmakers here are taking the lead from Donald Trump and extreme conservatives in Congress.
Minnesota conservatives are attacking trans kids in sports.
Minnesota conservatives are following the lead of Donald Trump and his Project 2025 agenda. Project 2025 directs conservatives to ban trans girls from sports. Four of the bills introduced by Minnesota conservatives this year attempted to do so. They even brought one of them to a vote, where it ultimately failed, thanks to progressive lawmakers.
Additionally, Minnesota Congressman Tom Emmer spent last Friday cyberbullying a local teenage transgender athlete from his official House Majority Whip social media. This behavior is unacceptable, especially from an elected representative.
Every child deserves a chance to play sports at school, and denying trans girls these opportunities is harmful to their physical and mental health. Restrictions on trans participation in sports also subject all women and girls to scrutiny about their bodies and violate existing non-discrimination protections in Minnesota.
Conservatives are spreading hate nationwide.
In Congress, South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace has been a vocal opponent of transgender people using the restroom they identify with. In 2024, she introduced a bill that targeted Representative Sarah McBride, attempting to ban her from using the women’s restrooms in the Capitol building. Two months later, Minnesota conservatives introduced two bills that would have banned trans girls from using the girls’ restrooms at school.
Bills like these are harmful to all women and girls. Legislating who can use which bathroom is an invasion of privacy and a distraction from the real issues that Minnesotans are facing.
Everyone is welcome in Minnesota.
Anti-trans policies exclude a segment of the population from equal participation in public life, and they open the door to further efforts to erode the civil rights and protections afforded to trans people. Minnesotans value dignity, fairness, and freedom. These bills are out of line with our state and serve only to divide our communities.
Join us in supporting our transgender neighbors.
P.S. For some good news, you can read about all of the work that progressive Minnesotans have done to support the LGBTQ+ community here!
