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From YouTube: December 2, 2022 Executive Order Protecting Gender-Affirming Care in Minneapolis press conference
Description
MINNEAPOLIS – Mayor Jacob Frey will sign an Executive Order that protects people seeking or receiving gender-affirming care in Minneapolis. During a time when many states are restricting or criminalizing access to this kind of care, this Executive Order supports people’s access to all services, supplies, drug therapies, and other care that an individual may receive to support and affirm their gender identity.
Executive Order 2022-04 prohibits all City of Minneapolis departments and staff from taking any enforcement action against providers or individuals exercising their right to gender-affirming health care in Minneapolis. The Executive Order also affirms the right of minors living apart from their parents to make their own medical decision regarding gender-affirming health care, pursuant to Minnesota state law.
Mayor Frey will be joined by Council President Jenkins and various healthcare providers to discuss the importance of this order and the impact it will have on our city.
A
Good
afternoon,
everyone
today
is
a
really
exciting,
meaningful
and
important
day,
because
I'm
about
to
sign
an
executive
order,
designating
Minneapolis
as
a
safe
haven
for
people
who
are
seeking
gender,
affirming
care
and
right
now,
at
this
particular
moment.
While
you
have
States
and
jurisdictions
around
the
country
that
are
trying
to
cut
back
on
that
right
and
preclude
people
from
getting
the
necessary
health
care
that
they
as
individuals
need.
It's
all
the
more
important
that
we
here
in
Minneapolis.
A
We
step
up
to
say
here
in
our
city,
you're
loved
you're
protected,
and
we
want
to
make
sure
that
you
feel
safe
in
getting
the
gender
affirming
care
that
you
need.
And
so
this
particular
executive
order
supports
people's
access
to
services,
to
drug
therapies
and
other
care
that
an
individual
may
receive
to
support
and
affirm
their
gender
identity.
A
Additionally,
we're
not
going
to
cooperate
with
other
jurisdictions
that
are
not
as
inclusive
that
are
not
as
compassionate
and
that
are
not
doing
the
right
thing
around
the
country.
We
will
not
cooperate
with
them,
whether
that's
administrative
staff
in
our
city
enforcement,
police
or
otherwise.
Our
city
will
remain
separate.
A
As
far
as
data
practices
go,
we
want
to
make
sure
that
people's
data
remains
private
and
so
to
the
extent
we
are
able
to
under
the
law-
and
that
is
always
a
preface.
We
want
to
make
sure
that
that
people
are
secure
in
their
identities
as
well
as
their
privacy,
and
then
that
also
applies
to
civil
judgment
as
well.
This
executive
order
also
affirms
the
rights
of
minors
that
are
living
apart
from
their
parents
or
or
legal
Guardians
to
make
their
own
medical
decision
regarding
their
gender
affirming
care
pursuant
to
minister
Minnesota
state
law.
A
That
is
already
in
practice.
So
this
was
going
to
be
here
a
joint
announcement
along
with
Hennepin
County,
as
they
have
recently
allocated
half
a
million
dollars
to
do
this
kind
of
work,
which
I
think
is
a
really
important
step.
The
chair,
Marion
green,
really
wanted
to
be
here,
but
she
had
something
come
up
last
minute
and
and
wasn't
able
to,
but
is
certainly
extremely
supportive,
really
proud
to
be
joined
by
Senator.
A
Scott
Dibble
really
appreciate
your
presence
and
all
the
work
that
you
have
done
over
the
years
for
for
Liberty,
for
for
privacy
and
and
for
for
compassion
in
this
particular
area.
Council.
President,
of
course,
who
I'm
going
to
introduce
in
in
a
moment
just
I
I
mean
I
when
I
say
I'm
speechless
about
what
I
can
I
I
literally
am
I
can't
say
enough
about
the
work
that
she
has
done
in
this
area.
A
A
really
special
thank
you
to
our
race,
Equity
inclusion
and
belonging
Department,
Skyler's
here
and
they've,
been
doing
a
really
amazing
job,
Skyler
and
and
the
whole
team
over
there
they've
been
doing
an
amazing
job
at
making
sure
it's
a
new
department
and
making
sure
that
they're
doing
the
necessary
work
here
and
also
want
to
especially
thank
track
Trachtenberg
track.
Where
are
you
yeah?
Thank
you.
A
Track
has
been
a
champion
of
setting
this
work
up,
he's
done
a
tremendous
job
to
to
move
this
forward,
and
we
are
so
unbelievably
appreciated.
Thank
you
track
also,
Amy
shut,
where's,
Amy,
Amy
shutt
who's
becoming
a
a
resident
constitutional
law
expert
in
doing
this
kind
of
work
and
and
navigating
the
the
complex
statutory
system
that
we
have
throughout
our
country.
A
Thank
you
to
the
providers
that
are
here
with
us
that
do
this
work
each
and
every
day
we're
going
to
call
on
several
to
speak
here
shortly,
but
the
service
is
is
needed.
We
know
that
so
many
people,
individuals
and
families
benefit
from
your
work
and
your
service
here
in
our
city,
and
we
thank
you
to
Advocates
to
our
trans
Equity
Council,
who
many
of
whom
are
also
here
with
us
today.
Thank
you
for
your
dedication
and
all
the
work
that
you
have
done
in
our
city.
A
We
really
appreciate
you
and
then.
Finally,
of
course,
thank
you
to
our
our
Council
pres
council,
president
Andrea
Jenkins,
there's
no
one
in
our
city.
That
knows
more
Works
harder
or
has
been
at
it
for
longer
than
our
council
president
Andrea
Jenkins.
A
a
hero
to
many
and
someone
who
I
know
is
is
loved
by
all.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
for
your
work
and
I
would
love
to
bring
her
up
here
now
to
say
a
few
words
council
president.
B
B
It
is
really
a
tremendous
honor
to
be
a
part
of
this
affirmation
of
those
identities
of
those
gender,
creative
young
people
who
may
have
to
seek
Refuge
here
in
Minneapolis
because
they
are
being
criminalized,
vilified
and
even
murdered
in
other
communities
around
the
country
and
so
I.
Don't
want
to
speak
very
long,
but
I
do
just
want
to
say
to
all
gender
non-conforming.
B
Trans
identified,
gender
expressive,
non-binary,
gender,
creative
young
people
and
our
Elders
as
well
that
here
at
the
City
of
Minneapolis,
we
see
you,
we
feel
you
we
hear
you
and
each
and
every
day
we
are
trying
to
be
responsive
to
the
needs
of
this
community,
bringing
equity
and
equality
to
the
work
that
we
are
all
trying
to
do
to
make
this
a
much
better
place
for
all
of
us
to
live.
Thank
you
so
much.
C
Talk
about
a
tough
act
to
follow
when
your
hero
gets
up
to
the
podium
and
then
steps
back
good
afternoon,
I'm
Dr,
Angela,
Kade,
gepford,
I
use
they
and
them
pronouns
I'm,
the
medical
director
of
the
gender
health
program
and
the
chief
education
officer
at
Children's,
Minnesota
I,
do
need
to
start
by
thanking
mayor
Frye
and
the
City
of
Minneapolis
for
this
important
action
to
protect
gender,
affirming
care
at
Children's
Minnesota.
Our
vision
is
to
be
every
family's
essential
partner
in
raising
healthier
kids
and
as
part
of
that
Vision.
C
C
C
This
deliberate
attempt
to
spread
fear
and
hate
targeting
some
of
the
most
vulnerable
kids
parents
and
the
doctors
who
care
for
them
has
to
stop
this
action.
Taken
today
is
one
step
toward
making
that
happen
more
than
anything
else.
I
want
transgender
and
gender,
diverse
kids
and
their
families
to
know
that
we
are
standing
up
for
them,
not
just
with
our
words,
but
with
our
actions.
C
D
Thank
you
first
I'd
also
like
to
to
thank
mayor
Frye
and
the
City
of
Minneapolis
for
taking
this
action
to
protect
youth,
adults
and
and
our
our
provider
teams.
I'm
Kelsey
Leonard,
Smith
I'm,
the
director
of
the
Child
and
Adolescent
transgender
hormone
CARE
program
at
Family,
Tree
Clinic,
as
well
as
the
intra
medical
director
and
a
family
medicine
physician.
D
Like
Dr
Gifford,
said
you
know.
As
doctors,
we
really
like
to
work
in
science
and
what
we
know
from
science
is
that
gender
affirming
Medical
Care
is
life-saving
care
period
here
in
Minneapolis.
This
is
a
really
remarkable
opportunity
for
us
to
provide
Safe
Haven
to
young
people
locally
and
from
around
the
country
when
the
state
governments
and
places
far
away
from
here
are
acting
as
bullies
towards
trans
and
gender,
diverse
youth
enacting
legislation
and
making
statements
from
the
highest
levels
putting
their
lives
at
risk
by
preventing
access
to
the
care
that
they
need.
D
You
know
the
ongoing
discrimination
and
harassment
that
trans
and
gender
non-conforming
people
of
all
ages
face
has
only
become
worse
in
recent
years
and
months,
and
we
see
it
across
the
news,
media
and
harassment
of
providers
at
Family,
Tree
Clinic.
Our
slogan
is
be
healthy,
be
you
and
that's
what
we
want
to
provide
because
trans
kids,
gender
non-conforming
kids
they
belong.
They
belong
everywhere.
They
belong
in
their
schools
in
their
families.
They
belong
on
sports
teams,
they
belong
in
our
clinics
and
they
certainly
belong
here
in
the
City
of
Minneapolis.
D
A
E
E
The
rising
number
of
Shameless
attacks
around
the
country
on
transgender
people
and
other
gender
non-conforming
folks
causes
real
harm
and
through
our
work
we
see
firsthand
the
harm
that
these
anti-transgender
attacks
have,
whether
they
come
from
far
away
or
nearby.
We
see
it
play
out
in
the
transgender
folks
we
serve,
but
also
in
our
data.
E
36
percent
say
they're
depressed
on
a
daily
basis
and
33
percent.
More
than
a
third
of
trans
non-binary
minnesotans
feel
hopeless
on
a
daily
basis,
and
we
know
that
in
a
nation
gripped
by
racism,
that
anti-trans
policies
are
not
applied
equally,
but
with
greater
force
and
impact
falling
on
those
who
are
also
black,
indigenous
and
people
of
color
foreign.
E
E
Minneapolis
and
Minnesota
have
had
a
long
Legacy
of
leadership
on
protecting
transgender
people
from
discrimination,
and
today
this
action
to
protect
access
to
gender,
affirming
and
life-affirming
Care
is
another
step
in
that
Legacy
mayor
fry.
Thank
you
for
being
part
of
that
Legacy
and
to
all
of
my
colleagues
and
partners
in
the
community.
Thank
you
as
well.
A
A
Minneapolis
right
so
there's
legal
in
terms
of
statutory,
which
is
the
purview
of
our
Senator
and
then
there's
legal
in
terms
of
the
directional
state
of
the
city.
What
changes
is
the
the
clear
directional
State
and
the
executive
order
that's
been
provided,
which
at
this
point
there
hasn't
been
one
part
of
that?
Is
we
want
to
take
the
next
step
in
affirming
gender
affirming
care?
And
secondly,
we
haven't
really
had
this
executive
order
process
up
and
running
before
the
new
government
structure.
A
A
Yeah,
we
are,
you
know.
Obviously,
safety
of
every
individual
in
the
city
is
of
Paramount
importance
right
now,
and
we
know
that
Nationwide
in
our
city,
in
our
state,
transgender
and
non-binary
people
have
been
disproportionately
targeted.
One
of
the
things
that
we
are
working
on
as
a
matter
of
fact
that
was
just
had
a
call
with
a
friend
of
mine
who
was
working
on
this
particular
topic
to
help
coordinate
a
system
of
communication
between
those
bars,
a
number
of
glbtq
bars
throughout
our
city
and
our
new
chief
police.
A
So
I
I'd
have
to
get
back
to
you
as
to
what
the
present
state
of
that
organizational
structure
is.
But
that
is
something
that
we're
working
on
to
make
sure
that
there
is
Media
communication,
but
also
that
best
practices
in
terms
of
the
the
Baseline
safety
are
communicated
and
provided
to
those
entities
and.
A
The
19th
portions
of
it
were
already
in
place.
Yeah
there
was
another.
Actually,
there
have
been
a
number
of
incidents
that
have
triggered
this,
the
the
work
not
in
our
city
but
Nationwide,
but
the
new
Chief
recently
came
on,
and
so
this
was
a
good
opportunity
to
also
introduce
our
new
Chief
to
these
bar
owners
and
the
community
at
Large.
B
City
council
is
in
the
process
of
adding
a
full-time
position
to
the
Department
of
race
and
Equity
inclusion
and
belonging
to
focus
more
broadly
on
the
LGBT
community,
the
issues
around
safety
and
access
to
health
care,
employment,
housing,
Etc
and
so
we're
we're.
Looking
more
broadly
at
bringing
more
resources
and
services
to
the
LGBT
community.
E
C
Paper,
scissors
yeah
right,
you
know,
I
think
what
this
executive
order
does.
Is
it
it
really
eases
a
burden
for
patients
and
their
families
in
terms
of
knowing
that
their
home
can
remain
their
home.
A
lot
of
what
we
hear
from
patients
and
families
is
that
they're
worried
that
access
to
this
life-saving
care
may
be
removed
and
what
would
that
mean
for
them?
Would
they
have
to
move?
Might
they
have
to
leave
the
country?
C
Might
they
have
to
leave
the
city
or
the
state
and
I
think
what
this
provides
is
a
peace
of
mind
that
they
can
stay
at
the
home,
that
they
know
and
love
here
in
Minneapolis
and
continue
to
receive
the
care
that
they
need.
I,
think
also,
you
know:
Dr
Leonard,
Smith
and
I
were
talking
before
the
press
conference.
C
We've
received
requests
from
out
of
state
from
other
families
who
can't
access
care
where
they
live
and
they're
wondering
if
this
is
a
safe
place
for
them
to
come
and
get
care
and
I
think
that
this
affirms
that
it
is
and
as
Dr
Leonard
Smith
so
eloquently
put
this
as
a
place
where
everyone
belongs,
and
so
this
executive
order
really
makes
that
more
clear.
I
think
and
provides
that
peace
of
mind.
E
Sorry
I'll
just
like
to
respond
briefly,
also
I.
Think
the
other
important
message
about
this
is:
it
sends
a
message
to
a
lot
of
different
people
and
it
sends
a
message
to
people
across
Minnesota
as
well
as
across
the
country
and
we're
great
to
have
some
very
inclusive
and
model
providers
here
today,
but
again
from
our
research
and
experience
from
the
folks
that
we
serve.
E
But
it
doesn't
believe
that
though
it
doesn't
mean
that
those
beliefs
don't
happen
in
Minnesota,
so
I
think
any
time
you
have
an
elected
official
and
a
government
step
up
and
say
this
matters
and
we
believe
something
different
does
send
a
message
across
our
state.
That's
why
you're
all
here
today
and
hopefully
sends
a
message
to
other
providers
around
Minnesota
that
this
is
life-affirming
care
and
they
need
to
be
part
of
the
solution.
A
I
Know
oh
executive
orders
like
this
hi
track,
I
use
they
and
he
pronouns
I.
There
are
a
couple
cities
who
are
looking
at
them
right
now
and
I
know:
California
has
issued
something
Statewide
to
become
a
refuge.
State
I
believe
there
was
something
in
process
in
Connecticut.
I
can't
confirm
if
it
passed
so
there's
a
few
on
city
and
state
level,
but
we're
this
is
still
very
much
on
the
early
end
of
anything
like
this
happening
is
my
understanding.
A
J
Thank
you
so
much
everybody.
Thank
you.
I
just
want
to
say,
I,
hope
and
pray
that
this
includes
black
and
brown
and
Native
trans
folks
who
do
not
trust
our
school
system.
I
know
people
did
not
ask
me
to
speak
here,
but
several
times
folks
who
are
not
of
color
folks
who
are
not
black
folks
who
are
who
are
not
indigenous,
have
called
our
name
into
this
space
as
a
black
native
trans
youth.
I'm.
Sorry,
I'm.
J
Sorry,
if
this
offends
us
but
I
hope
that
our
people
can
see
this
as
important
to
them
too,
and
to
know
that
our
lives
do
matter,
black
Trans
lives
do
matter
indigenous
lives
matter.
This
is
step
one.
This
is
step
one.
Thank
you
to
our
elders,
but
this
is
step.
One
part
of
black
Trans
Liberation
is
abolition
and
I'm
gonna,
say
it
in
this
space
because
it
needs
to
be
said.
So.
Thank
you
so
much
for
your
work.
This
is
the
beginning.
We
belong
here.
This
is
the
beginning.