SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Heading into PRIDE weekend in the Twin Cities, House DFLers released the following statements in support of Minnesota’s LGBTQ community:
“All Minnesotans deserve to be safe and live with dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity,” said Speaker Melissa Hortman. “House DFLers will continue working to promote equality and inclusion in all areas of Minnesota law.”
“Republicans blocked a ban on gay conversion therapy this year, but DFLers will keep fighting to end this harmful practice,” said Majority Leader Ryan Winkler. “We must continue working together to root out intolerance wherever we find it.”
“Conversion therapy is harmful, and has no place in legitimate healthcare in Minnesota,” said Representative Hunter Cantrell. “Despite the Senate stopping this extremely important bill last session, we will continue to work to ban LGBTQ conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults so that only the highest standard of credible mental healthcare is offered to patients in Minnesota.”
Majority Leader Winkler and Rep. Cantrell will join advocates at a closed-press roundtable on banning conversion therapy and other issues affecting LGBTQ Minnesotans later today. A ban on gay conversion therapy passed 72-53 earlier this year as part of the House Health & Human Services Omnibus bill. The measure failed as an amendment in the Republican-led Senate.