What is Minneapolis’ history with the LGBTQ+ community?

Minneapolis has a long history of inclusion, forward thinking policies, and of being a pioneer in the LGBTQ+ community. As such, Minneapolis has topped many lists as being one of the friendliest cities for LGBTQ+ communities.

• In the early 1970s, Minneapolis was the third city in the country to pass legislation prohibiting housing or employment discrimination based on sexual orientation.
• In 1975, Minneapolis became the first city in the country to pass a non-discrimination ordinance.
  
• In the early 1990s, Minneapolis created Minnesota’s first municipal domestic-partner registration ordinance.
  
• In 2013, when same sex-marriage became legal in Minnesota, then Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak married two couples at midnight.
  
• In 2018, transgender candidates Andrea Jenkins and Phillipe Cunningham were sworn onto the Minneapolis City Council, marking the first such victories for transgender people in a major American city council race. Currently, Jenkins serves as Minneapolis City Council President.
  

At the state level, Minnesota was the first state to reject a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage by a popular vote. For a timeline of important events in Minneapolis and Minnesota, go here. From food and drink establishments to shopping and entertainment, there are many LGBTQ+ businesses throughout Minneapolis. Here’s a sample list: www.minneapolis.org/lgbtq-community/businesses/.

How do Minneapolis and Minnesota rank in terms of LGBTQ+ inclusivity?

In 2022, the Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, scored Minneapolis a perfect 100. According to its website, “cities are rated on a scale of 0-100, based on the city’s laws, policies, benefits, and services. There are 100 standard points and 22 flex points (flex points are awarded for items which apply to some but not all cities). All public scores are capped at 100 points.”

According to the Movement Advancement Project (MAP), which tracks more than 50 different LGBTQ-related laws and policies, Minnesota ranks in its top category: “High Overall Policy Tally.” For specific details on Minnesota’s equality profile as complied by MAP, go here.

Has Minneapolis taken any measures to protect drag performers and performances?

Yes. In June 2023, the city adopted a resolution 'Honoring Drag Performance and Drag Culture as a Form of Free Speech.' (Fox 9 story)

The resolution states, in part:

• “The City of Minneapolis uplifts efforts that protect and promote drag culture and transgender lives…”
• “We condemn the rise of anti-drag and anti-transgender legislation where bans and restrictions have passed or are being advanced [in other states]…”
• “Minneapolis will continue to take actions to remain a safe and welcoming city in steadfast support of drag artists and performance, drag history, culture, and complete freedom of gender expression, and we recognize, honor, and celebrate the contributions of our renowned drag community.”
  
• “The Mayor and City Council do hereby express our City's values and support for the rights of all individuals to express themselves freely and openly and stand in support of drag artists and performers everywhere.”

Does Minneapolis offer protection for those seeking gender-affirming care?

Yes. In December 2022, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order creating a safe haven for individuals seeking gender-affirming care.

Gender-affirming care impacts gender-diverse and transgender youth, according to Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, chief education officer and medical director of Children’s Minnesota’s gender health program.

In the city’s executive order, it states in part:

• “The City of Minneapolis has consistently declared its commitment to furthering transgender equity and supporting its growing transgender community; and whereas, healthcare professionals providing and persons seeking, receiving, or assisting another individual who is seeking or receiving, gender-affirming healthcare in the City of Minneapolis should be protected from attempts to impose criminal punishment, civil liability, administrative penalties, or professional sanctions, based on the laws of other states when gender-affirming healthcare is lawful in the State of Minnesota and meets standards for good professional practice…”

Does the State of Minnesota offer protection for those seeking gender-affirming care?

Yes. On March 8, 2023, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed an executive order “reaffirming the right to access gender-affirming care in Minnesota for trans and gender non-conforming people.”

• “The order will direct state agencies to ensure people seeking gender-affirming care in Minnesota will not face legal repercussions. That includes out-of-state people seeking care — state agencies will not be allowed to cooperate with other states where gender-affirming care is criminalized.”

On April 28, 2023, a new Minnesota law went into effect protecting individuals seeking gender-affirming health care. In addition, a ban on conversion therapy also became law.

• According to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR News): “The laws banning conversion therapy and protecting gender-affirming and reproductive health care for patients and providers [went] into effect immediately.
• Known as HF 146, this new law “prevents children traveling to the state for gender-affirming care from facing legal repercussions, including warrants and extraditions, from other states.”
  • “Leigh Finke is the Democratic state representative and transgender woman who introduced the bill. She told the Committee on Judiciary Finance and Civil Law on January 31: ‘HF 146 would make Minnesota into a trans refuge state by protecting trans people, their families, and medical practitioners from the legal repercussions of traveling to Minnesota to receive gender-affirming care.’”
  • “HF 146 effectively means that children who are increasingly unable to seek gender-affirming care in their home state will be able to travel to Minnesota to do so. They would not face legal repercussions that have been stipulated in anti-trans legislation, so long as those people were to remain in Minnesota.”

Are gender-neutral restrooms available in Minneapolis?

Yes.

In 2017, the City of Minneapolis allotted $17,000 to “change signs and make security upgrades, such as new locks, at 62 gender-neutral restrooms at 44 city facilities, including department offices, fire and police stations, Public Works facilities and city-owned parking ramps,” according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That article also stated, “The restrooms will be available for anyone to use, and separate men’s and women’s restrooms will continue to exist.”

Specifically at the Minneapolis Convention Center, all bathrooms include accessible stalls. There are also gender-neutral family bathrooms located on Level Two, Level One and the Lower Level.

In early 2022, a policy report presented by city staff to the Policy and Government Oversight (POGO) committee “aims to increase the number of gender-neutral bathrooms in the city by incentivizing more business and property owners to add the facilities.” (MinnPost story)

At MSP Airport, single-use restrooms are located throughout both terminals.

The University of Minnesota provides an all-gender restroom map here: https://gsc.umn.edu/resources/all-gender-restroom-map

At the state level, the Minnesota building code was updated in 2020 “to require a single-stall restroom to be ‘identified for usage by either sex.’ The code applies to all buildings constructed after 2020, and all renovations for buildings constructed prior to 2020 that involve a single-stall bathroom.” (MinnPost story)

What additional measures are in place to ensure equality for LGBTQ+ individuals in Minnesota?

In July 2023, Gov. Walz announced the formation of the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans. The Minnesota Legislature created this council to “implement economic, social, legal, and political equality for Minnesota's community of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender expansive, queer, intersex, asexual, or two-spirit.”

According to the Minnesota Reformer: “The new Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans will advise the governor and Legislature on bills, act as a liaison between advocacy organizations and the government and conduct studies focused on problems facing LGBTQ residents.”

Additional information about the Council on LGBTQIA2S+ Minnesotans can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.