Politics
Minneapolis Signs Safe Haven Bill Protecting Trans Refugees

Safe Haven Bill Passes to Protect Trans Rights in Minneapolis
December 03 2022 6:45 PM EST
December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST
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Safe Haven Bill Passes to Protect Trans Rights in Minneapolis
\u201chttps://t.co/zQwZ3ENDkn\n\nThis is a wonderful order. I was skeptical that much could be done at the city level, and the parts about "except as required by lawful authority" mean they probably can't completely protect trans people without a safe state law, but this is a great move.\u201d— Erin Reed (@Erin Reed) 1670109769
WHEREAS, as of the date of this Executive Order, Minnesota law does not restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare, bans insurance exclusions for gender-affirming healthcare, and requires coverage of gender-affirming healthcare by state Medicaid; and
WHEREAS, in 2022, 20 state legislatures introduced 40 bills restricting or criminalizing access to gender-affirming healthcare, and seven states passed legislation or released guidance restricting or criminalizing access to gender-affirming healthcare; and
WHEREAS, some of the states bordering Minnesota have proposed bills restricting or criminalizing access to gender-affirming healthcare, and passed other legislation limiting the rights of trans youth, and local clinics and advocates have heard from families living all over the continental United States who are considering moving to Minnesota to access gender-affirming healthcare for their children; and
WHEREAS, other states may adopt or expand laws that purport to impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions, on health care professionals who provide gender-affirming healthcare and on persons who seek, receive, or assist another in receiving gender-affirming healthcare, in the City of Minneapolis; and
WHEREAS, gender-affirming healthcare has been proven to be evidence-based, medically necessary, and lifesaving by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatricians, the Endocrine Society, the American Psychiatric Association, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, amongst other institutions; and
WHEREAS, studies have shown that gender transition, including access to gender-affirming healthcare, improves the overall wellbeing of transgender people, and that access to gender-affirming healthcare for youth is associated with better mental health outcomes and lower risks of suicide; and
WHEREAS, over 94% of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed by the Trevor Project in late 2021 said that recent politics have negatively impacted their mental health, and 93% of transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed by the Trevor Project in 2022 said that they have worried about transgender people being denied access to gender-affirming medical care due to state or local laws; and
WHEREAS, multiple healthcare institutions across the country, including in Minnesota, have scaled back or considered scaling back gender-affirming healthcare services in response to legal challenges, perception of legal risk, harassment, or threats of violence; and
WHEREAS, a large number of the institutions providing gender-affirming healthcare in the State of Minnesota are located in Minneapolis, and local advocates already report long waitlists and difficulty accessing medically necessary gender-affirming healthcare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Minneapolis has consistently declared its commitment to furthering transgender equity and supporting its growing transgender community; and
WHEREAS, healthcare professionals providing and persons seeking, receiving, or assisting another individual who is seeking or receiving, gender-affirming healthcare in the City of Minneapolis should be protected from attempts to impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions, based on the laws of other states when gender-affirming healthcare is lawful in the State of Minnesota and meets standards for good professional practice; and
WHEREAS, a majority of U.S. adults agree that transgender minors should have access to gender-affirming care; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary and appropriate to exercise the executive authority vested in my office, including the coordinated and integrated direction, supervision, and control of all City of Minneapolis departments, boards, commissions, and other agencies, to protect healthcare professionals and persons lawfully seeking, receiving and assisting another individual in the seeking or receiving of gender-affirming healthcare in the City of Minneapolis;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Jacob Frey, Mayor of the City of Minneapolis, do hereby order the following:
“Gender-affirming healthcare” means all services, supplies, drug therapies, and other care that an individual may receive to support and affirm the individual’s gender identity, that are legal under the laws of the State of Minnesota as of the date of this Executive Order or any time thereafter.
“Lawful authority” means a statute or regulation that applies in Minneapolis, an order of a court of competent jurisdiction, or lawfully issued judicial warrant of a court of competent jurisdiction.
“City personnel” means employees, volunteers, and contractors of current and future executive branch departments of the City of Minneapolis, including, but not limited to the 311 Service Center, Arts & Cultural Affairs Department, Assessing Department, Office of the City Attorney, Office of the City Coordinator, Civil Rights Department, Communications Department, Community Planning & Economic Development Department, Finance & Property Services Department, Health Department, Human Resources Department, Information Technology Department, Intergovernmental Relations Department, Minneapolis Convention Center, Neighborhood & Community Relations Department, Performance Management and Innovation Department, Public Works Department, Racial Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Department, Regulatory Services Department, Minneapolis Emergency Communications Center (MECC), Emergency Management Department, Fire Department, Neighborhood Safety Department, and Police Department.
This Executive Order shall become effective upon filing with the Office of City Clerk, as noted below, and shall continue in force until further notice or until it is amended, superseded, or rescinded.
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