Statement on Gender-affirming Actions Led by My Office This Year

In 2022, there was a devastating increase in efforts to pass legislation, policies, and practices that discriminate against transgender persons and against persons based upon perceived gender identity or expression. For example, the State of Texas adopted a policy through a gubernatorial executive order that instructed child welfare officials to investigate reports of gender-affirming care for children as abuse. The State of Florida enacted legislation that now outlaws discussion of sexuality or gender identity in schools regulated by the state. Research by the Fenway Institute and other peer-reviewed medical journals document significant harm that such public policies cause to transgender and gender non-conforming youth. We also saw an increase in violence towards these communities, both individually and en masse. These attacks, both physical and legislative, are heinous, unacceptable, and tragic for so many people and their families.

Transgender and gender non-conforming youth, especially youth of color, disproportionately experience homelessness, poor educational outcomes, involvement in the justice system and the child protection system, and are particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking. Further, research consistently shows dramatically higher rates of suicidality among transgender individuals, especially transgender youth.

For these reasons, my office led on three separate actions this year that worked to codify protections and fund health care for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals.

On June 7th, we passed a Resolution affirming the gender identity and expression of Hennepin County residents, workers, and clients.

In anticipation of Roe falling in the courts, this resolution renewed Hennepin’s responsibility to affirm the gender identity and expression of residents, workers, and clients receiving county services. This resolution also required the County to review and revise policies to ensure we and contract partners affirm gender identity and expression, as all people should be able to receive services in ways that recognize and uplift their humanity. Further, it is increasingly important for the County to remain centered on the mental, emotional, and social health of children in our care, and to ensure our policies and practices reflect this commitment.

I’m thankful for the many community members and providers who contributed to this resolution, and grateful to colleagues for unanimous approval. I’d like to thank Hennepin staff and legal counsel for their work in strengthening this board action.

On November 15th, we passed a Resolution recognizing November 20, 2022 as Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Transgender Day of Remembrance is a global annual observance in November that honors the memory of transgender people around the world whose lives were cut short by anti-trans violence. This is the first time that Hennepin County has recognized this important day.

This resolution acknowledged that transphobic violence is inherently connected to race, gender, and class, and that in 2020 three-quarters of the trans and nonbinary people killed in the United States were people of color, with Black transgender women at particular risk of experiencing violence. It also acknowledges how it is imperative to consider these intersections of identities as we continue to fight for equity in Hennepin County and in Minnesota.

The resolution also stated that Hennepin County further recognized that our transgender employees, residents, and members of our communities also experience compounding challenges in their daily lives such as disproportionately high levels of unemployment, barriers to securing stable housing, and exclusion from high quality, affordable, accessible, and affirming health care.

By observing the Transgender Day of Remembrance as we continue our dedicated fight for equity, Hennepin County recognizes, admires, and celebrates transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people in all their joy and resilience, and honors the memory of people who are transgender whose lives were lost in acts of antitransgender violence.

Thank you to Hennepin’s Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Employee Resource Group for their partnership on this resolution. Their leadership in this space requires vulnerability and bravery, and makes Hennepin stronger and safer.

On November 29th, we passed a Budget Amendment that funds Gender-affirming Health Care.

This amendment, brought forward in partnership with Commissioner Conley and Commissioner Greene, creates a one-time Request for Proposals, to directly grant up to $500,000 to organizations that provide reproductive health care and/or gender-affirming health care in Hennepin County, including outreach and application assistance for culturally-specific providers who serve marginalized identities.

Gender-affirming health care are essential services that are often politicized and face challenges in access. This resolution ensures Hennepin County continues its commitment to investing in services that expand accessible reproductive health care and gender-affirming health care for all, with emphasis on populations experiencing health and racial equity disparities.

Building off of our June 7th resolution, this amendment acknowledges Hennepin’s role in ensuring that local service providers have the capacity to provide care to our residents for gender-affirming health care. When people are denied gender-affirming health care, they experience lasting emotional and economic impacts that reinforce existing inequities. Funding culturally-specific gender-affirming health care is an upstream solution that prevents poverty, reduces disparities, and lessens resident reliance on county services.

I extend a heartfelt thanks to the many organizations who do this work every day, as well as to those who reached out to our offices because it helped identify gaps in funding, trends in services, and how the County can play a role in ensuring our residents get the health care they need.