MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey signed an executive order protecting people pursuing gender-affirming care on Friday. Frey said it sends a message that the city is a safe place for transgender and non-binary people.
“We want to make sure that you feel safe in getting the gender-affirming care that you need,” said Frey.
City leaders said this message is needed right now.
“They are being criminalized, vilified and even murdered in other communities around the country,” said Minneapolis City Council President Andrea Jenkins.
“Providers tell us that patients will come to Minneapolis to get the healthcare they need, but they worry that access could be taken away from them,” said Dr. Angela Kade Goepferd, the medical director for the Gender Health Program at Children’s Minnesota.
Nick Schanilec said he couldn’t transition until he moved to the Twin Cities.
“I actually grew up in a very small town in Wisconsin, of maybe 60 to 70 people,” said Schanilec, who is also the assistant director for Transforming Families. “What it says for me is that it's safe to take that first step in Minneapolis because you know that the next step will still be there to take when you're ready, whenever that may be.”
“My child transitioned socially when she was five years old,” said Hannah Edwards, who is also the director for Transforming Families.
We talked to her throughout the years about parenting her transgender daughter.
Edwards says the conversations have been difficult and there were times when her daughter's choices and her parenting choices were questioned.
“I think it sends a message to places in greater Minnesota, that this is the right thing to do,” said Edwards. “And that Minneapolis is a safe place.”
Watch more Breaking The News:
Watch all of the latest stories from Breaking The News in our YouTube playlist: