Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was recently named as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, has a legislative history of supporting the rights of transgender minors and gender-affirming care, which has come under fire from top Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Senator JD Vance.
At a campaign rally in Montana on Friday, Trump, the GOP’s presidential nominee, accused Walz of signing a law “letting the state kidnap children to change their gender so that they go home.” Vance, during an interview with ABC News’ Jonathan Karl on This Week that aired Sunday morning, backed Trump’s comments, reiterating that the policy amounts to “kidnapping.”
The Republican challengers’ comments do not accurately depict Walz’s legislative history, however.
In April 2023, Walz, who has been the state’s governor since 2019, signed a Minnesota law aimed at protecting the rights of the LGBTQ+ community to access and receive gender-affirming health care—which can include a range of medical procedures and caresuch as surgery and puberty blockers—without intervention of out-of-state laws.
The law says court orders “for the removal of a child issued in another state solely because the child’s parent or guardian assisted the child in receiving gender-affirming care in this state must not be enforced in this state,” with many referring to this as a “Trans Refuge” law. It prohibits the extradition of out-of-state individuals for receiving legal case in Minnesota.
It also states if a child has been abandoned or their safety is at risk, or they are unable to obtain gender-affirming care, the “court of this state has temporary emergency jurisdiction.”
The month prior he signed an executive order reaffirming the right to access gender-affirming care in Minnesota, stating in a press release, “In Minnesota, you will not be punished for seeking or providing medical care. This Executive Order delivers the urgent action that our LGBTQ Minnesotans deserve.”
In addition, Walz banned conversion therapy for children and vulnerable adults. Twenty-three states and Washington, D.C., have banned conversion therapy. Meanwhile, half of the United States have restrictions on gender-affirming care.
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Walz’s addition to Harris’ ticket was applauded by Sarah Kate Ellis, chief executive officer of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the world’s largest LBGTQ+ media advocacy organization, for his “longstanding commitment to the equality, prosperity, and safety of all Americans, including and especially for LGBTQ people.”
His nomination was celebrated by LGBTQ+ organizations. A former teacher, Walz served as the faculty advisor of Mankato West High School’s first gay-straight alliance back in 1999.
Newsweek submitted an online contact request form to Walz’s press team for comment via email on Sunday. Newsweek reached out via email to GLAAD’s press team for comment on Sunday.
Vance’s policies on LGBTQ+ issues and gender-affirming care differ significantly from those of Walz. Last year, he introduced the “Protect Children’s Innocence Act” to ban transition-related medical care, with providers facing potential jail time. The senator has also sought to ban unspecified “X” gender markers on passports.
Newsweek reached out to Vance’s spokesperson for comment via email on Sunday.
While in the Oval Office, Trump opposed the Equality Act, federal legislation to guarantee protection for LGBTQ+ members. Among other initiatives, he banned transgender troops from openly serving, which was later overturned by Biden.
