Minnesota Democrat Leigh Finke – the state’s first trans lawmaker – calls for ‘cementing of rights’ for ‘nonbinary, two-spirit and intersex individuals’

Minnesota Democrat Leigh Finke — the state’s first transgender lawmaker — publicly called for “cementing” rights for “trans, nonbinary, two-spirit and intersex individuals in our state constitution.”

Finke — who outraged many when she was named the state’s “Woman of the Year” by USA Today — delivered the speech as the Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus unveiled its 2024 agenda.

In a speech Wednesday, Finke presented Minnesotans with an “equal rights amendment” that would complement liberal Gov. Tim Walz’s executive order to protect access to “gender-affirming care” for trans youth.

She demanded that transgender people in Minnesota be given “full and equal access to protections forever.”

Finke also said at the time that the state should enshrine rights for “non-binary, two-spirit and intersex individuals.”

Non-binary people are considered by the definition to be ‘people whose gender is neither male nor female’ the National Center for Transgender Equality.

“Two-spirit” is an identity used by indigenous peoples that “refers to a person who identifies with both a male and a female spirit,” according to Re: seeking LGBTQ health.

Intersex people are individuals who are born with a combination of male and female biological characteristics, per Planned Parenthood.

Finke argued that the amendment would be a “national leading initiative” at a time when transgender issues are a flashpoint nationally.

“Achieving a trans-inclusive EWC and protecting trans rights in the long term are critical to the long-term health and safety of my community and all our communities,” she said.

The Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus added that their 2024 goals include “accountability, accessibility and tangible improvements for a more inclusive and equitable Minnesota.”

In Minnesota alone, many of the issues involving LGBTQ+ people and children have sparked controversy.

In November, a Minnesota mother and former teacher criticized her former school district, claiming they put gender ideology and critical race theory ahead of children’s emotional well-being.

The former teacher said, “I have seen over the years that social-emotional learning is less about improving a student’s emotional intelligence, as was intended, and more about pushing through ideologies.

“There are two ideologies that I will discuss tonight that have become embedded in social-emotional learning in the Anoka-Hennepin District. Problem number one: children should not be sexualized.

‘We don’t need books about exploring sexuality – homosexual, heterosexual or otherwise – in schools.

‘We don’t need teachers asking students for their pronouns. And even worse, we don’t need teachers asking students if they have a preferred pronoun that they want to keep secret from their parents. That happens in this neighborhood.’

Bednar then referred to such behavior as “grooming.”

Anoka-Hennepin is Minnesota’s largest school district, serving 38,000 students at 25 elementary schools, six middle schools and five high schools.

The 2023/24 policy manual states, “Anoka-Hennepin schools have a growing number of students who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming.”

It adds: ‘All students, including transgender and gender non-conforming students, may use all facilities consistent with their gender identity.’

If students request more private spaces to change, the policy suggests they can use an “alternate changing area,” including a “P.E. teacher office in the locker room.”

It adds: ‘In some circumstances, transgender students may not want their parents to know about their transgender status or express their affirmed gender at school.

“Parents or guardians have the right to access the information unless a court order provides otherwise or the student requests that the information be withheld and the school determines that this is in the student’s best interests.”

In December, a handful of Somali parents hoping to provide a better life for their children in Minnesota battled with their public school district for teaching “sexualized topics” without their consent.

The First Liberty Institute represents six Somali-Muslim families who are asking to be notified before their children receive instruction about LGBTQ identity, saying it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

Their children are all between the ages of seven and nine, and the majority are in third and fourth grade.

Finke, a former academic, journalist and author, was voted into office in 2022 with 81 percent of the vote in her heavily left-leaning district in the Twin Cities metro area.

She was honored along with several other people, including former First Lady Michelle Obama and the U.S. women’s soccer team. Transgender Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine was one last year.

Finke is the first transgender lawmaker elected in the state, which is one of the reasons the newspaper chose to honor her. Finke switched in 2017.

She acknowledged how recently she had risen in politics tweet comment on the price during the weekend.

‘As a chosen one, I realize that I have only just arrived here. The trust that my district, the gay community and my colleagues in the capital have placed in me has been life-giving. I’m only beginning to understand how much my life has changed for the better in the past year.’

In late 2023, Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said signed an executive order protecting the rights of LGBTQ people from Minnesota and other states to receive gender-affirming health care.

Finke was at the signing of the order and, unsurprisingly, supported the move in a tweet.

“This executive order is necessary as the national attack on transgender people escalates every day. Our rights are now under attack. People are now looking for safety. And Governor Walz’s actions today will ensure that safety,” she wrote.

However, she has caused controversy elsewhere with the Daily caller she criticized her for calling an allegation of sexual abuse against a member of the indigenous group Honor the Earth against a minor “irrelevant” in the discussion about its funding.

USA Today described Finke as “an activist for transgender and LGBTQ+ rights, as well as Black Lives Matter, for almost her entire life.”