Journalists must press Minnesota Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz (D) for answers on his controversial 2023 decision to make Minnesota a “trans refuge.” This law allows Minnesota courts to intervene in custody cases where children come to the state for “gender-affirming care,” including puberty blockers and hormones, and to grant temporary emergency jurisdiction if such care is not available elsewhere.
Critics argue that this “gender-affirming care” can be detrimental, likening it to an unethical experiment on minors. Investigative journalist Gerald Posner and political scientist Leor Sapir have raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of these treatments, citing a lack of strong evidence supporting their long-term benefits.
Journalists should press Tim Walz on his controversial decision to make Minnesota a ‘trans refuge’
The April 2024 Cass Report from the UK echoed these concerns, finding weak evidence for the use of puberty blockers and hormones in minors and prompting several European countries to restrict such interventions.
In my book, “The Reckoning: How the Democrats and the Left Betrayed Women and Girls,” I argue that the Democratic Party has compromised women and children in favor of an abstract notion of “gender identity,” which overlooks the realities of biological sex and its impact on women and girls. Reports of young girls undergoing irreversible procedures without medical necessity highlight the urgency of this issue.
Given these developments, it is important to question Walz about his support for a law that enables Minnesota courts to override parental decisions regarding their children’s treatment.
Did Walz understand the emerging global consensus against such practices when he signed the bill? And does he still support this legislation in light of the mounting evidence against “gender-affirming care”?
Democrats who want to vote in the upcoming presidential election but are concerned about the party’s stance on these issues deserve clear answers. It is time for the media to hold Walz accountable and provide the public with the information they need.
