ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) 鈥
Gov. Tim Walz signed an executive order Wednesday protecting the rights of LGBTQ people from Minnesota and other states to receive gender affirming health care, as he slammed the tide of other states rolling back transgender rights.
鈥淲e want every Minnesotan to grow up feeling safe, valued, protected, celebrated, and free to exist as their authentic versions of themselves,鈥 Walz said. 鈥淧rotecting and supporting access to gender affirming health care is essential to being a welcoming and supportive state.鈥
Advocates for LGBTQ rights say are and to restrict the expression of those who are nonbinary, gender-fluid or who perform in drag. According to the Human Rights Campaign, more than 150 bills targeting trans rights have been introduced in other states. Walz singled out where on gender affirming care for minors last month.
鈥淚 don't know what a group of people in Pierre who decide to make life miserable and more dangerous for people are thinking, but it's not going to happen in Minnesota,鈥 Walz said to applause from a room full of LGBTQ activists and their supporters.
Walz's executive order parallels legislation awaiting a floor vote in the state House to make Minnesota a 鈥渢rans refuge state鈥 by protecting trans people, families and care providers from a range of legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota for gender affirming care, which includes a
While sponsors said they're optimistic about passage in the coming weeks, the governor said the made it urgent for him to impose protections immediately.
The bill is authored by of St. Paul, Minnesota鈥檚 first openly transgender legislator. It would prohibit the state from enforcing court orders or child protection laws from other states if they interfere with a person鈥檚 right to seek gender affirming care in Minnesota.
The importance of the governor's order to LGBTQ people across the nation can't be overstated, she said.
鈥淭he lives of trans and gender expansive people this nation are under attack," Finke said. "There is a full-scale movement in this nation against trans, nonbinary, two-spirit and gender expansive adults and children that seeks to make our community disappear.鈥
A separate bill for LGBTQ children and vulnerable adults won approval in the Minnesota House last month and is awaiting a floor vote in the Senate.
Conservatives said the governor's order will hurt vulnerable children instead of helping them.
鈥淧eople who struggle with their gender identity deserve compassionate care that will help them become comfortable in their bodies, not mutilate them," John Helmberger, CEO of the Minnesota Family Council, said in a statement.
Elsewhere, to prohibit gender affirming medical care for trans children and pass other anti-trans legislation have led to heated demonstrations. The Arkansas Senate on Tuesday gave initial approval to that match their gender identity. Tennessee鈥檚 governor signed legislation last week that from taking place in public or in front of children.
鈥淎ll children deserve to thrive, we can agree on that, but for transgender youth, that thriving and access to lifesaving gender affirming care is under threat in statehouses around the country,鈥 Dr. Kelsey Leonardsmith said. 鈥淚t is under threat from bullies who hide behind junk science, and bullies who abuse their positions of power to hurt these precious children.鈥
Leonardsmith runs clinics in Minneapolis and St. Paul that serve transgender youth, including families that have relocated from restrictive states. She said said they provide 鈥渆vidence-based care in line with international guidelines鈥 and work closely with families to ensure that children and adolescents receive appropriate care consistent with their stages of intellectual and physical development.
鈥淎nd there is no one else who belongs in that room making those decisions,鈥 she said.
