Last year, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN)—Kamala Harris‘ 2024 vice presidential running mate—signed sweeping civil rights legislation that designated “gender identity” as a legally protected class, along with other changes. However, buried in the bill was amended language, which removed text from existing Minnesota law that specifically states those sexually attracted to children are not considered to be part of a legally protected group for the purposes of employment discrimination.
The amended language, which could pave the way for pedophiles to receive employment protections, was authored by state Representative Leigh Finke (D), a transgender male who claims to be a woman. Finke’s amendment specifically struck language reading: ‘”Sexual orientation’ does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.”
In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Finke lashed out at critics of the amended language, bizarrely accusing them of intending to personally “hurt” him with the backlash. “There was never a controversy, but it didn’t matter. The lie exploded into a whirlwind of hate intended to hurt me,” the transgender lawmaker wrote. “And it worked! Congratulations. I’m left hurt, and scared. People I thought were kind, showed otherwise. I can’t changed [sic] that. We can only move forward. Onward,” he added.
While some critics of the civil rights changes have argued that the struck language means pedophiles are now a protected class in the state, that does not appear to be the case. The employment protection provisions do not override Minnesota‘s criminal law, which explicitly states the illegality of pedophilia and sexual interactions with children.
However, the language Finke added to the state’s anti-discrimination provisions raises additional concerns. The gender identity provisions make biological sex-specific organizations, such as boys’ or girls’ mentorship programs, nearly impossible in the state.