New law establishes Minnesota as a ‘Trans Refuge’ state

Minnesota as now a “Trans Refuge” state due to a new law that prevents out-of-state laws from interfering in the practice of gender-affirming health care here.

Sponsored by Rep. Leigh Finke (DFL-St. Paul) and Sen. Erin Maye Quade (DFL-Apple Valley), the law took effect April 28, 2023.

Specifically, the law prohibits the enforcement of a court order for removal of a child or enforcement of another state’s law being applied in a pending child protection action in Minnesota, when the law of another state allows the child to be removed from the parent or guardian for receiving medically necessary health care or mental health care that respects the gender-identity of the patient. The law gives Minnesota courts jurisdiction in most situations where a child is present in Minnesota for the purpose of obtaining gender-affirming care.

A Minnesota judge is prohibited from issuing a warrant for the arrest of a person – or a law enforcement officer from arresting a person – charged in another state for a crime arising from acts committed in Minnesota involving gender-affirming health care.

Gender-affirming health care encompasses a range of social and medical interventions to affirm someone’s internal gender identity, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, permanent hair removal, voice therapy, and surgical interventions.

HF146*/SF63/CH29

HF0146* / SF0063 / CH29