Virtual File - Item

Text: 2023 QUEER CAUCUS
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ACHIEVEMENTS

The Minnesota House Queer Caucus was on undeniable force throughout the legislative session. The Queer
Caucus led efforts to advance equity and create policies to ensure Minnesota become a refuge state for
our LGBTQIA2S +, trans, and nonbinary community. Minnesota is a leader in LGBTQIA2S + rights and with
the strong leadership of the Queer Caucus, our state will continue to protect LGBTQIA2S+ people from
discrimination and violence.

The list below highlights some of the accomplishments we delivered from our legislative agenda.

Decriminalizing HIV and Funding Resources/Services

• $12.1 million in funding to address HIV needs in
Minnesota
• The repeal a 1995 law that allows prosecutors
to charge someone who "knowingly harbors
an infectious agent" and engages in behaviors
that could transfer it to another person, such
as through sex, sharing needles or by donating
blood, sperm or organs. A person who takes steps
to prevent transmission, as advised by health
professionals, is not guilty of a crime under the
law.

School Facilities

Our gender-expansive and trans youth are telling
us they feel safer and more respected when they
have the choice to choose which bathroom they
want to use. There is also a plethora of reasons
students may feel more comfortable being able to
have privacy in a single-stall restroom. The Queer
Caucus worked relentlessly to secure a $2 million
investment in grant funding in the Education
Budget Bill for schools to construct single-stall
restrooms.

Trans Refuge

Governor Walz signed the Trans Refuge bill
(HF 146) into law in April. The law establishes
Minnesota as a refuge state for trans people,
their families, and health care providers. The bill
protects people seeking or providing genderaffirming
health care in Minnesota.

LGBTQ2S+ Council

We created a Council on LGBTQIA Minnesotans.
The new panel will advise the governor and the
legislature, perform studies, and make policy
recommendations on issues that affect our
community. The Council's goal is to improve
the implementation of economic, social, legal,
and political equality for Minnesota n's LGBTQIA
community. The Council will also help increase
outreach to the LGBTQIA2S+ community and
advocacy organizations.

Take Pride Act

Prejudiced and harmful language has no place
in Minnesota's civil rights law. We updated the
definition of sexual orientation to one that better
represents Minnesota's LGBTQIA2S+ community
by repealing outdated language in the statute
that associates the LGBTQIA2S+ community with
pedophilia and ties sexual orientation to a criminal
act in the Minnesota Human Rights Act.

PRIORITY BILLS FOR 2024 BIENNIUM

Comprehensive Sex Ed

Comprehensive sex education is the most
effective type of sex education. Studies have
shown that comprehensive sex education can
reduce the rates of unplanned pregnancy and
STls by up to 70%. In contrast, abstinence-only
education has not been shown to be effective in
preventing pregnancy or STls.
This bill will require the commissioner of
education to develop a model program for
sexual health education. A school district or
charter school must implement a comprehensive
sexual health education program for students
in elementary and secondary school, including
students with disabilities and students enrolled in
a state-approved alternative program.

Gender-Affirming Rights Act

Everyone has a fundamental right to make
autonomous decisions about their gender and
use of gender-affirming care. This bill creates a
new section in law titled the "Gender-Affirming
Rights Act" and protects an individual's a right
to make decisions about their gender and related
gender-affirming health care decisions. The
legislation prevents local units of government
from restricting the right to make autonomous
decisions.