St. Paul, MN, February 14, 2023—The Minnesota Senate’s Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee voted to advance SF 23 with bipartisan support. The bill prohibits “conversion therapy with children or vulnerable adults…medical assistance coverage for conversion therapy…and the misrepresentation of conversion therapy services or products.” The Senate bill along with its HF 16, the House companion bill, have now cleared all their committee stops and are ready for floor votes in each chamber.

 

This legislation will end the practice of conversion "therapy" for LGBTQ+ 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.” In advancing this legislation Minnesota is one step closer to joining the more than 20 states around the country who have sought to end this practice. 

 

OutFront Minnesota thanks State Senator D. Scott Dibble (DFL-61) and Representative Athena Hollins (DFL-66B) for their work in championing this community priority.

 

"Today we celebrate another step towards ending the harmful practice of so-called conversion ‘therapy’ in the state of Minnesota. Not only will this legislation protect vulnerable Minnesotans from these discredited practices, it sends an important message of support to our state’s LGBTQ+ community: that we are valued and loved for who we are. We are so grateful to all the people who have carried this important work over the years, and thrilled to be moving this legislation forward," 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 30 years, OutFront Minnesota has led the way toward LGBTQ+ equity.