ST. PAUL, Minn. — Later Friday, the Minnesota Senate was scheduled to vote on three health care bills — the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, Trans Refuge Bill, and a ban on conversion therapy, all of which have already been passed by the Minnesota House.
As of 1 p.m., Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said that the conversion therapy ban had passed in the Senate. The bill bans the practice of giving therapy aimed at converting members of the LGBTQ+ community to a heterosexual lifestyle, for anyone under 18 years of age.
“Today is a historic day in Minnesota. We are affirming that being LGBTQ+ is normal, healthy, and natural. After years of carrying this bill, the Minnesota Senate passed this long overdue legislation to ban the dangerous and discredited practice,” Dibble said. “The medical and scientific community has been clear that individuals deserve to be supported for who they are, and by passing this bill, we show our LGBTQ+ Minnesotans that we will do that.”
Shortly thereafter, the senate passed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, by a vote of 34 to 29. Both that and the conversion therapy bill will now move on to be signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz.
Supporters of abortion rights championed the passage.
“The champions of reproductive freedom in our legislature have made it clear that Minnesotans will not stand for the attacks on abortion rights and access that have spiraled out of control across the nation,” Megan Peterson, executive director of Gender Justice, said. “Now we must strengthen these protections still further by removing from Minnesota law the anti-abortion restrictions that will remain a threat to reproductive freedom as long as they remain on the books.”
Supporters say the laws are needed at a time when others states are seeing to ban abortion procedures as well as gender-affirming care for minors.
People on both sides of the issues were in the capitol earlier Friday, some shouting, “Protect trans kids,” and others, “We can’t go back.”
The consideration of transgender refuge comes as part of a string of moves that have served to bolster transgender rights in the state. Minnesota lawmakers recently passed legislation, which Walz signed into law, that aimed to make Minnesota a “refuge” for transgender people. Those pushing the legislation forward said it would protect trans patients and providers of gender-affirming care from legal action in other states where such care is banned or restricted, creating a safe haven in Minnesota.
Walz had earlier signed an executive order designed to protect gender-affirming care.
Meanwhile, neighboring states have moved in the opposite direction. Earlier this week, North Dakota’s Republican Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday evening signed two transgender athlete bans into law, effectively prohibiting transgender girls and women from joining female sports teams in K-12 and college.
