Minnesota Democrats reacted with anger and frustration to a recent ruling of the Supreme Court, which upheld Tennessee’s law banning sex-change procedures for minors.
“Speechless today,” Rep. Leigh Finke, DFL-St. Paul, wrote on Bluesky after the decision was announced. In an Instagram video posted later, Finke, who is transgender, called it an “awful morning.”
In the 6-3 ruling last week, the Supreme Court found that Tennessee’s law banning puberty blockers and hormones for minors does not violate the Equal Protection Clause.
“It’s terrible. It’s scary. Things are bad and they’re getting worse,” Finke said. “The most difficult part of this work is knowing that there are always people in the community coming after other members of the community for the way that we fight for our rights.”
“It is not the people fighting for our rights who are to blame for what has happened. It is a decade long, targeted, national, coordinated, highly-funded, political movement of the Christian right to target, alienate, and erase us for political gain,” Finke added. “Any other target is wrong.”
DFL U.S. Rep. Angie Craig, who is running for U.S. Senate, also criticized the decision, calling it a “blow to families” and not in alignment with parental rights. “Republicans have tried to convince you they are the party of parental rights. Where are they now? These decisions should be left up to families and their doctor,” Craig wrote.
Today’s decision is a blow to families across the country. Extreme Republicans have tried to convince you they are the party of parental rights. Where are they now? These decisions should be left up to families and their doctor.https://t.co/1qH7RULTET
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) June 18, 2025
The Minnesota Queer Legislators Caucus also posted a response on Facebook, saying that the ruling will “remove scientifically sound and necessary health care.”
“In a United States Supreme Court decision announced Wednesday, the Court upheld Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The 6-3 decision will now allow states across the country to roll back protections for this life saving healthcare,” the Facebook post reads.
Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, said in a statement that the decision was made by “far-right justices.”
“Today’s decision by the far-right justices of the Supreme Court will allow states across the country to remove scientifically sound and necessary health care for those who most need it. Coupled with the news that suicide prevention services will no longer be provided, these decisions will only lead to unnecessary suffering for transgender youth and the wider LGBTQ+ community and continues the demonization and attack of our community,” Dibble said.
“While President Trump and conservative state governments are rolling back these protections and services people depend on, Minnesota will continue to be a North Star and refuge for those who are only seeking the freedom they deserve. Gender-affirming care remains accessible and protected, and we will continue to provide the services and care that will help those in need,” he added.
About half the states have laws similar to Tennessee’s. President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January cutting federal funds to institutions that promote “the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.”
Minnesota passed a law in 2023 making the state a “refuge” for children seeking sex-change procedures. However, a poll from the Center of the American Experiment that year found that a majority of Minnesotans oppose allowing minors access to those procedures.
Hayley Feland
Hayley Feland previously worked as a journalist with The Minnesota Sun, The Wisconsin Daily Star, and The College Fix. She is a Minnesota native with a passion for politics and journalism.
