Hennepin County contractors forced to ‘affirm gender identity’

Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Catherine Johnson recently noted that the changes are an “important step” to treating “transgender and gender-nonconforming residents and employees equitably.”

woman
Shutterstock

Contractors doing business with Hennepin County will be forced to affirm the “gender identity” of all Minnesotans or risk being canceled thanks to a radical pro-LGBT measure approved by county commissioners in June.

Board Action Request 22-0216, which passed by a 7-0 vote this summer, committed the county to the vague goal of creating “a safe and welcoming” place for “LGBTQ+ people.” Second District Commissioner Irene Fernando introduced the legislation, which appears to lack a robust religious liberty clause.

“An affirmation of gender expression or gender identity should not be burdensome to the person receiving services; the individual’s gender identity and expression should be recognized and respected. The assertion may be evidenced by an expressed desire to be consistently recognized as the sex consistent with their gender identity,” the resolution states.

One practical result of the motion’s passage was the authorization of the Hennepin County Administrator’s (HCA) office to review and update existing policies with the understanding that all county partners and contractors will show “commitment to LGBTQ+ clients and communities.”

“Through this action, the County Board can re-affirm its commitment to being inclusive and affirming of individuals’ gender expressions and gender identities, across all of the County’s critically important work,” the resolution adds.

The resolution also condemns Florida for enacting “legislation that now outlaws discussion of sexuality or gender identity in schools regulated by the state,” without clarifying that this only applies to K-3 classrooms.

In an email obtained by Alpha News, Hennepin County Department of Community Corrections and Rehabilitation Director Catherine Johnson recently noted that the changes are an “important step” to treating “transgender and gender-nonconforming residents and employees equitably.”

“This authorized the County Administrator to review and revise policies to ensure Hennepin County and those awarded contracts affirm gender identity and expression,” she reiterated.

Johnson, who included in her email the pronouns she/her/hers, further pointed out that following the board’s decision to proclaim Nov. 20 as “Transgender Day of Remembrance,” there would be two events for employees of her department to attend. One, a training session hosted by a left-wing group called Gender Justice. And two, a showcase featuring “local trans poets and spoken word artists.” Those events were held on Nov. 17 and 20, respectively.

Hennepin County currently has an “LGBTQIA ERG” that supports the “full expression of LGBTQIA employees and residents of the county.” The county’s website states that the group “serves as a resource providing personal and professional development opportunities for LGBTQIA employees throughout Hennepin County, and sets goals to make ‘bringing the whole self’ to work possible.”

The county also has a “Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming” ERG that envisions a “working environment in which employees and customers feel their gender identities are valued and supported.”

 

Stephen Kokx

Stephen Kokx, M.A., is a journalist for LifeSiteNews. He previously worked for the Archdiocese of Chicago under the late Francis Cardinal George. A former community college instructor, Stephen has written and spoken extensively about Catholic social teaching and politics. His essays have appeared in such outlets as Catholic Family News and CatholicVote.org.