Minnesota Queer Caucus Condemns South Dakota’s Proposed Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

St. Paul, MN - As South Dakota prepares to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, Rep. Leigh Finke (DFL - St. Paul) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL - Apple Valley), supported by the legislature’s Queer Caucus, condemned the action while highlighting efforts of the caucus to establish Minnesota as a refuge for gender-affirming care:

“Gender-affirming care is vital, life-saving health care, backed by science and medical professionals,” said Sen. Maye Quade. “That legislators in South Dakota would jeopardize the health, safety, and wellbeing of transgender youth and their families only serves to emphasize the dire need for Minnesota to establish itself as a refuge for these families, and the health care they need. “

“South Dakota is not the first, and will not be the last, to pass such dangerous and damaging laws,” said Rep. Finke. “Our hearts go out to the trans and gender-expansive young people in South Dakota. Minnesota needs to meet this moment, when a border is all that’s in the way of keeping a child from being their authentic selves, and say loud and clear: Minnesota will have you. Minnesota is for everyone.” 

Sen. Maye Quade and Rep. Finke are the authors of SF 63/HF 146, which would establish Minnesota as a refuge for gender-affirming care. The House has already held its first committee hearing on the legislation, and the Senate is scheduled to hold its first committee hearing this morning.

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