ST. PAUL, Minn. - In response to the growing number of legislative assaults on the right of those who seek gender-affirming health care, Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) and Representative Liz Reyer (DFL-Eagan) have introduced legislation (SF 4525, HF 4822) prohibiting any attempts of outside jurisdictions or entities from reaching into our state with their laws to take action on people who come to Minnesota to receive this critical care. Their legislation mirrors legislation being introduced across the country in a multistate effort to create states of refuge for those seeking this care.
“Far-right politicians across the country are playing games with people’s lives by criminalizing the fundamental right of Transgender youth and their families to seek gender-affirming health care,” said Senator Dibble. “While we cannot stop these despicable laws from being enacted in other states, we can make sure that these youth and their families can safely receive the care they need in Minnesota, without fear or hatred.”
Legislation seeking to criminalize those seeking gender-affirming health care has been introduced and passed in a growing number of states. In Texas, the legislation would allow the separation of kids from parents seeking this care and would criminalize efforts by parents who would seek this care for their children. Alabama’s law goes into effect this coming weekend and would create a felony crime, with a prison term of up to 10 years, for a health care professional to provide care.
“These assaults on families are unacceptable, immoral, and something that we must stand together as a state and reject, and we must do everything we can to send a clear message that these families are welcome here,” said Representative Reyer.
This bill is modeled on legislation first introduced in California and includes 19 states in total that have already or plan to introduce this legislation.