Bill Makes MN A Sanctuary For Puberty Blockers, Child Gender Surgery

ST. PAUL, MN — A bill in the Minnesota House would make the state a legal sanctuary for children seeking "gender-affirming health care" such as puberty blockers and gender-related surgeries.

Specifically, the "Trans Refuge" bill says Minnesota cannot enforce an out-of-state court order that penalizes a parent or their child for seeking transgender-related procedures.

"Minnesota is a state that prides itself on providing world-class health care, but as extreme anti-trans legislation appears in numerous states, including our neighbors, Minnesota must also become a safe harbor for those seeking gender-affirming care," the bill's author, Rep. Leigh Finke, in a statement.

"I want to thank all the testifiers: doctors, parents, and advocates, who joined us today to dispel rumors and lift up the real lives at stake with this legislation. Gender-affirming care is vital, life-saving health care, and it deserves to be protected in Minnesota."

Finke is the first transgender person elected to the Minnesota legislature.

According to Finke, gender-affirming care includes "a wide range of social and medical interventions to affirm someone’s internal gender identity" such as:

• Puberty blockers
• Cross-sex hormones
• Permanent hair removal
• Voice therapy
• Surgical interventions

Finke said trans people can face higher rates of depression, suicide, and substance abuse if they cannot access these types of procedures.

The bill is currently in the House Judiciary and Civil Law Committee. During the first hearing Tuesday, opponents of the legislation brought up concerns about the long-term risks of hormonal treatment and other gender-related drugs.

Rebecca Delahunt, who works on policy for the Minnesota Family Council, also testified that parents could lose custody under the bill if they choose not to provide their child with certain trans-related procedures.

Renee Carlson, who serves as general counsel for True North Legal, said the bill undermines court jurisdictions across the country and codifies experimental medicine into state law.