Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan held a signing ceremony today for Executive Order 21-25, a historic Executive Order protecting LGBTQ+ youth from the harmful practice of conversion “therapy.”
Senator Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) is a fierce advocate and the chief author of legislation that bans the use of the so-called conversion “therapy” for LGBTQ+ children and youth in Minnesota – legislation that hasn’t made it pass the Republican-controlled Senate.
In response to the signing of the Executive Order, Senator Dibble released this statement:
“I am proud to stand with Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Flanagan today as he signs this historical order ending this practice that should have been banned a long time ago. This order signals to the LGBTQ+ youth that our government believes they are perfect and wonderful just the way they are. We have long known that being LGBTQ+ is not a disorder, nor a mental illness. Today marks a fantastic first step in affirming this for all LGBTQ+ people in Minnesota. While there is still further action for the Legislature to take codifying these protections, I rejoice for all the young people who look to their government today and feel that we truly have their best interests at heart.”