Minnesota advances 'trans refuge' bill opponents say would strip custody from non-consenting parents

Minnesota lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation that would establish the state as a "trans refuge" for children who are seeking transgender medical procedures but who may be denied "gender-affirming care" in other states.

In a party-line 68-62 vote, the Minnesota House passed HF 146, which had been introduced by Rep. Leigh Finke of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Finke is the state's first transgender lawmaker.

Democrats supporting the bill say the legislation will protect transgender people, their families and healthcare providers from facing legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota to obtain cross-sex hormone prescriptions or sex-change procedures. Similar legislation has been introduced in California and other states with Democratic-controlled legislatures, which seek to counter Republican states that have sought to ban transgender procedures for minors.

"Gender-affirming care is lifesaving health care," Finke told reporters ahead of debate on the bill. "Withholding or delaying gender-affirming care can have a dramatic impact on the mental health of any individual who needs it. Rates of depression, suicide, substance abuse are dramatically higher in transgender and gender-expansive individuals who lack access to care."

HF146 would prevent law enforcement from removing a child from parental custody in accordance with an order from outside Minnesota.

This legislation is meant to ensure that children undergoing gender transition procedures allowed under Minnesota law cannot be governed by child protection laws of other states. It's a direct response to neighboring South Dakota, where Republican Gov. Kristi Noem signed a law banning puberty blockers, cross-sex hormone treatments, and sex-change operations for transgender individuals under the age of 18.

1 posted on 03/26/2023 5:27:11 AM PDT by Libloather

“Gender-affirming care is lifesaving health care”. BS on their part. This is not healthcare. It is perversion.

2 posted on 03/26/2023 5:40:34 AM PDT by JoJo354 (We need to get to work, Conservatives!)

Every time I think Minnesota might be a nice place to live, I’m reminded that just enough kooks live there to make it unpleasant.

3 posted on 03/26/2023 5:45:37 AM PDT by Bishop_Malachi (Liberal Socialism - A philosophy which advocates spreading a low standard of living equally.)

The warm weather and low taxes makes it great to live in

Wait... Ummm

Wtf am I doing in this state again?

4 posted on 03/26/2023 5:49:43 AM PDT by cableguymn

"Gender-affirming care is lifesaving health care," Finke told reporters ahead of debate on the bill.

Total BS.

5 posted on 03/26/2023 6:03:13 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith….)

And, Satan owns the socialist perverts.

6 posted on 03/26/2023 6:08:37 AM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. The Dhimmicraps are ALL Traitors. All of them.)

They hate the institution of the family because it creates a system of loyalties not subordinate to the state.

There are other factors, but that lies at the heart of it.

7 posted on 03/26/2023 6:47:28 AM PDT by Salman (It's not a slippery slope if it was part of the program all along. )

How’s that trannie-theory playing out in Minneapolistan?

8 posted on 03/26/2023 8:27:06 AM PDT by nicollo ("I said no!")

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