MPR News Reported that at Tuesday's presentation of the bill, the author, Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, stated that this was the first time in the history of the state legislature that a bill had been proposed to address the issues of trans and gender-expansive people in Minnesota. Finke stated, “This is literally the first convening of our community for a bill that will help us live.”
Finke stated that the Trans Refuge Bill (HF146) could make Minnesota a hub for trans individuals. This bill would protect those who identify as trans, their families, and medical providers from any legal repercussions for coming to the state for gender-affirming care.
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If approved, this alteration of state custodial laws would permit the consideration of gender-affirming care, thereby granting Minnesota courts with the authority to make decisions in certain matters.
During the hearing, several parents of transgender youth spoke in favor of the bill. However, many opponents voiced their concerns about gender-affirming healthcare and the rights of parents. Rebecca Delahunt, assistant director of public policy for the Minnesota Family Council, announced that HF 146 prevents parents or guardians from denying their children access to gender-affirming health care.
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Many doctors vouched for the fact that gender-affirming health care is typically done with the information and approval of the parents. However, Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, chief education officer and medical director for the gender health program at Children's Minnesota, stated that gender-affirming care is, at its core, about listening to, understanding, and supporting transgender youth and their families. This includes both psychological and medical treatments.
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