SW News: In the US state of Minnesota, parents, conservative groups and family law attorneys have expressed concern over the new “trans refuge bill” that is being advanced by lawmakers. They say that the legislation has been drafted in such a way that it will pave the way for parents to lose custody of their children in case they object to providing transgender care. The new bill seeks to transform the state into a hub for trans refuge where gender-changing procedures can be accessed by children from other states where such therapies are banned.

Speaking to Fox News, Minnesota-based Attorney Bob Roby said that “The most insidious aspect of this bill is the language that adds children who are being denied ‘gender-affirming care’ (defined as everything from therapy to hormone blockers, to transition surgery) to what amounts to the definition for a child ‘in need of protection or services’ in Minnesota, allowing the courts to take ‘emergency custody’ of the child."

With more than three decades of experience in family and juvenile courts, Roby said that he extensively studied the provisions of HF 146 to testify before legislative committees. The manner in which the norms that decide if a kid is being denied trans care have been drafted goes against the provisions of the laws that are meant to protect children.

Boby said, "This kind of court power has a long-standing precedent in Minnesota for keeping children safe. When a child is at risk of being harmed by a parent or custodian, the State has immediate authority to remove and protect the child from harm. Without this, there would be no way to protect children in those situations."

He explained that adding children who are being denied ‘gender affirming care’ to the definition of children in need of such emergency action is unwarranted.
Introduced by Leigh Finke of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, the bill was passed 68-62 in the House last week.