Homosexuality
    ✔ Legal
    Gay Marriage
    ✔ Legal
    Censorship
    ✔ No censorship
    Changing Gender
    ✔ Legal, no restrictions
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✔ Recognized
    Discrimination
    ✔ Illegal
    Employment Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Housing Discrimination
    ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
    Adoption
    ✔ Legal
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    ✔ Legal
    Donating Blood
    Unknown
    Conversion Therapy
    ✔ Banned
    Age of Consent
    ✔ Equal
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According to recent survey data, Minnesota shows to be supportive of the LGBTQ+ community in comparison to other parts of the world.

Perception of LGBTQ+ People

Survey results from 5 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Minnesota.

Overall

Overall

Perceived Safety*

Feel safe being open
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.

Equal Treatment

Treatment by peers
Treatment by family
Treatment at work
Treatment at school
Treatment by general public
Treatment by businesses
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups

Visibility & Representation

Inclusion in education
Representation in entertainment
Representation in news
Political support
Out public figures

Culture

Pride/events
Nightlife
Dating life
Interest groups and clubs

Services

Health and wellness
Gender-affirming care
Support and social services
Advocacy and legal

History

Homosexual activity in Minnesota

?

Homosexual activity in Minnesota is legal.

Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
The US Supreme Court's ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy. Minnesota's sodomy ban was definitively repealed in May 2023.
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May 2, 2001–Jun 25, 2003
Legal
Homosexuality is now legal in Minnesota, although the state would not repeal its legislative sodomy provisions until 2023.
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Jan 1, 1849–May 1, 2001
Illegal (imprisonment as punishment)
In May 2001, Minnesota courts struck down the state's sodomy law which had been on the books since the 1800s. The law prohibiting oral and anal sex allowed for penalties of up to a year in jail and up to $3,000 in fines.

Same-sex marriage in Minnesota

?

Same-sex marriage in Minnesota is legal.

Current status
Since Aug 1, 2013
Legal
Governor Mark Dayton signed a bill into law overturning a previous law which banned marriage between anyone other than one man and one woman.
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Jun 2, 1977–Jul 31, 2013
Banned
Minnesota laws are changed to explicitly outlaw same-sex marriage through adding the words "between one man and a woman".
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May 25, 2011–Nov 6, 2012
N/A
In May 2011, a question to amend the Minnesota Constitutional is placed on the November 2012 ballot by the state legislature. The amendment failed to pass in 2012, but marriage remained illegal in MN due to a state law.
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Until Oct 15, 1971
Unrecognized
After two men attempted to obtain a marriage license, a court issued a ruling declaring that, though the wording of the law was not explicit in excluding same-sex couples from marriage, it was the intent of the law.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Minnesota

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Minnesota is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
There are no laws censoring LGBT topics in Minnesota.
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Right to change legal gender in Minnesota

?

Right to change legal gender in Minnesota is legal, no restrictions.

Current status
Since 2018
Legal, no restrictions
While there's no actual law support this, Minnesota's Department of Safety had quietly added X gender marker to their licenses. This is still in effect as of 2018, as they roll out REAL ID. Permits are also able to get X gender marker, as of 2018 as well.

Gender-affirming care in Minnesota

?

Gender-affirming care in Minnesota is legal.

Current status
Since Mar 8, 2023
Legal
As of 2023, Governor Tim Waltz made an executive order protecting transgender healthcare in the state of Minnesota. He also protected insurance discrimination, and also made sure that Medicaid required that they cover Gender affirming care state-wide. Health care providers are not to be arrested for giving gender affirming care. This executive order is still in effect until it is made law.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Minnesota

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Minnesota is recognized.

Current status
Since Oct 1, 2018
Recognized
Residents of Minnesota can change their gender marker to an X on their driver's license.

LGBT discrimination in Minnesota

?

LGBT discrimination in Minnesota is illegal.

Current status
Since Apr 2, 1993
Illegal
Language specifically protects on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Exemptions exist for religiously affiliated/operated organizations.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Minnesota

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Minnesota is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Apr 2, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Language protects based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Religious exemptions apply.
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LGBT housing discrimination in Minnesota

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Minnesota is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Apr 2, 1993
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal. Religious exemptions apply.

Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
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Same-sex adoption in Minnesota

?

Same-sex adoption in Minnesota is legal.

Current status
Legal
Joint adoption is not explicitly prohibited, though no formal law states it is legal, and no state court has ruled on the issue. Second parent adoption by a same-sex partner is not explicitly prohibited by state law, and several lower courts in Hennepin and Atkins counties have allowed second parent adoptions to take place.
Sources:
hrc.org/laws-and-legislatio…
www.lambdalegal.org/states-region/minnesota
Minnesota §259.22
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Intersex infant surgery in Minnesota

?

Intersex infant surgery in Minnesota is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
No US state has enacted a ban on surgeries that attempt to change an intersex minors sex without their consent.
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Serving openly in military in Minnesota

?

Serving openly in military in Minnesota is legal.

Current status
Since Feb 26, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Biden removed former President Trumps ban on transgender people serving in the military, transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2024.


A year after the ban was lifted, Admiral Levine was sworn into being an Admiral, becoming the first transgender woman to hold a high rank in the Navy and in Cabinet.
Apr 11, 2019–Feb 26, 2021
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
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Sep 20, 2011–Apr 11, 2019
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Dec 21, 1993–Sep 20, 2011
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Sources:
gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-104p…
catalog.archives.gov/id/122244870 *official document for DADT signed by Former President Clinton*
gao.gov/assets/nsiad-92-98.pdf *study from 1992 to 1998*
history.com/news/dont-ask-d…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Minnesota

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Minnesota is unknown.

Current status
Unknown

Conversion therapy in Minnesota

?

Conversion therapy in Minnesota is banned.

Current status
Since Jul 15, 2021
Banned
On July 15, The governor of Minnesota signed an executive order restricting conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth in the state.
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Until Jul 15, 2021
Ambiguous
Conversion Therapy is currently legal in Minnesota, and has reportedly been carried out at various clinics throughout the state -- perhaps most notably at the clinic of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann's husband, Marcus Bachmann. No law currently bans it, though a meager attempt to introduce a ban has taken place. The proposed ban would only impact minors (Those under the age of 18). Though it's not actually ambiguous (It is in fact legal), this is the best indicator of the available options.

Equal age of consent in Minnesota

?

Equal age of consent in Minnesota is equal.

Current status
Equal
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