News & Stories

May 17, 2019

FOX 9: 'I'll be nauseated': Republican senators torn over conversion therapy vote

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - A vote on banning therapists from trying to convert gay children in Minnesota left lawmakers choked up this week at the state Capitol.

"Emotional day at the capital." A crowd stands holding orange signs which read "Queer lives matter" and "Our minds."

May 3, 2019

Press Release: Minnesotans Rally to Ban Conversion Therapy

[Saint Paul] Minnesotans, continuing the fight to end the fraudulent and dangerous practice known as conversion therapy, held a rally at the Minnesota State Capitol as part of a full day of LGBTQ lobbying and workshops. Hundreds of Minnesotans from across the state came together to meet with their legislators to fight for equity for LGBTQ Minnesotans and to demand a stop to conversion “therapy.”

May 3, 2019

On Top Magazine: 'Ex-Gay' Therapy Ban Clears Minnesota House

A bill that seeks to prohibit therapies that attempt to alter the sexual orientation or gender identity of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth cleared the Minnesota House on Thursday.

May 3, 2019

MPR News: MN House adds conversion therapy ban to big health bill

The Minnesota House has taken a stand against conversion therapy, a practice used to try to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.

Lawmakers voted 72-53 Thursday to include a statewide ban of the therapy on minors in a larger health and human services bill.

DFL Rep. Hunter Cantrell spoke at a rally at the Minnesota Capitol on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. Evan Frost | MPR News

May 1, 2019

OutFront Minnesota's 2019 Youth Summit

Watch this heartwarming video about young people making change!

May 1, 2019

Junior's Story: Surviving Conversion Therapy

Watch a video of Junior talking about his traumatic experience with conversion "therapy."

April 19, 2019

StarTribune: Omar rallies support for bill banning gay conversion therapy

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Rep. Ilhan Omar has rallied LGBTQ youth in support of a Minnesota bill to ban gay conversion therapy for minors or vulnerable adults.

Omar spoke Thursday on the state Capitol steps to a crowd that marched from OutFront Minnesota's seventh annual Youth Summit at Saint Paul College.

The Minnesota Democrat called gay conversion therapy "torture" and said it should no longer be a legal practice in Minnesota or in any other state.

Omar was a co-sponsor of a similar bill when she was in the Minnesota House. She was elected to Congress in November.

Minneapolis Democrat Scott Dibble, the only openly gay Minnesota senator, urged the crowd to meet with their legislators, fight for change and run for office.

The American Psychological Association opposes therapy seeking to change sexual orientation.

U.S. Rep Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks to support LGBTQ and allied high school students from across the state of Minnesota who marched to the State Capitol steps Thursday, March 21, 2019 in St. Paul, Minn. to urge lawmakers to protect LGBTQ Minnesotans and youth from the effects of so-called conversion "therapy."

April 19, 2019

StarTribune: Counterpoint: Minnesota should restrict conversion 'therapy'

It is time for Minnesota to pass the Mental Health Protections Act and join the 15 other states that have already restricted the dangerous practice of conversion therapy. Nearly half of those states had bipartisan support. Let's unite as Minnesotans to protect vulnerable LGBTQ youth.

April 19, 2019

MSU Reporter: It happens to us too: Abuse and sexual assault in LGBTQ relationships

As part of the sexual assault awareness month, the LGBT Center and VARP hosted an event called “It happens to us too”. The purpose of this event is to shed more light and raise awareness on domestic violence and sexual assault in the LGBTQ community.
Nicole Engel, who works with the anti-violence section of OutFront Minnesota, moderated the event. OutFront Minnesota is an agency focused on leading Minnesota toward LGBTQ equality.

April 19, 2019

Shakopee Valley News: Letter: Time to ban conversion "therapy" in Minnesota

Conversion "therapy" is a torturous practice that aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity. This leads to serious harm, mostly in our young people, like depression, suicide, abuse of substances and PTSD. I've been standing arm-in-arm with conversion therapy survivors, faith leaders, doctors, and mental health practitioners to make sure our lawmakers put an end to this practice and protect LGBTQ Minnesotans.