St. Paul, MN, January 6, 2023—The Minnesota Senate, as one of the early pieces of legislation, has introduced SF 23, which prohibits “conversion therapy with children or vulnerable adults…medical assistance coverage for conversion therapy…and the misrepresentation of conversion therapy services or products.” OutFront Minnesota supports this legislation being referred to the Senate Health & Human Services Committee for a second reading and hopeful passage.

State Senator D. Scott Dibble (DFL-61) is the lead author of SF 23 which is co-authored by Senators Alice Mann (DFL-50), Erin Maye Quade (DFL-56), and Clare Oumou Verbeten (DFL-66). 

HF 16, the House companion bill, has also been introduced and referred to the House Human Service Policy Committee for second reading as well. This legislation will end the practice of conversion ‘therapy’ for LGBTQIA+ Minnesotans, which is defined as seeking to “change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity, including efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same gender.”

OutFront Minnesota stands proudly with our legislative champions and state leadership in advocating for the passage of this legislation for Minnesota’s LGBTQIA+ community.

"OutFront has long advocated for protecting our community from the physical, mental, and social harms that have come with the discredited practice of so-called conversion ‘therapy.’  We have supported bans in municipalities across the state and celebrated the 2021 Executive Order by Governor Walz to take action on this important issue. We celebrate the introduction of this legislation to protect vulnerable Minnesotans and to send the message that our LGBTQ+ community members are cared for and valued for who they are," said Kat Rohn, Executive Director of Outfront Minnesota.

-

OutFront Minnesota is the state's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization. OutFront’s mission is to create a state where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people are free to be who they are, love who they love, and live without fear of violence, harassment or discrimination. For more than 35 years, OutFront Minnesota has led the way toward LGBTQ+ equity.