Minnesota Passes Controversial Trans Refuge Bill

Minnesota lawmakers have passed a bill that would establish the state as a "trans refuge" for children seeking transgender medical procedures but who may be denied "gender-affirming care" in other states. The legislation aims to protect transgender people, their families, and healthcare providers from legal repercussions for traveling to Minnesota to obtain cross-sex hormone prescriptions or sex-change procedures. However, conservative groups and family law attorneys warn that the legislation is written in such a way as to open the door for Minnesota parents to lose custody of their children if they refuse to provide them with transgender care. The bill now heads to the Minnesota state Senate, where Democrats hold a one-seat majority.