In May of 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed into law the Take Pride Act in Minnesota, which included a controversial provision redefining the term “sexual orientation” to encompass pedophiles within the state’s Human Rights Act.
This move sparked significant outrage.
The original Human Rights Act, established in 1993, had added sexual orientation as a protected class but explicitly excluded any physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult from its definition of “sexual orientation.”
However, the Take Pride Act sought to remove this caveat and expand the scope of sexual orientation to include pedophiles.
According to Fox News, transgender Rep. Leigh Finke was the primary sponsor of the Take Pride Act.
The bill faced opposition during a Senate debate hearing, with Sen. Nathan Wesenberg expressing concerns that supporting the legislation could be perceived as endorsing pedophilia.
Despite these objections, the Senate approved the bill, leading to Governor Walz signing it into law.
The passage of this redefined Human Rights Act drew attention and raised questions about the implications and consequences of this expanded definition.
The inclusion of pedophiles within the protected class of sexual orientation sparked controversy and prompted discussions about safeguarding minors and upholding ethical standards within state laws.
Critics argue that this redefinition will normalize or condone harmful behaviors towards children.
Tim Walz Signed a Bill Redefining the Term "Sexual Orientation" to INCLUDE PEDOPHILES.
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On 02/13/2023, Leigh Finke, a trans identified male, Introduced H. F. No. 1655, which redefined "Sexual Orientation."
Link to the amendment: https://t.co/zlGnpYTSbJ
In… pic.twitter.com/IcdpMZSsnV
— Dark Hegel™️ (@xxclusionary) August 6, 2024
Per The Star Tribune:
GOP lawmakers leveled a heavy accusation at the DFL majority during public safety debates in recent days, accusing them of protecting pedophiles — adults who are sexually attracted to children.
A disproportionate amount of debate in the House and Senate over the 500-plus page, $3.5 billion public safety bill focused on the removal of one sentence from the state’s Human Rights Act (HRA): “Sexual orientation does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.”
Rep. Harry Niska, R-Ramsey, said some may now “interpret the HRA to deem pedophilia as a protected class in Minnesota, which prevents them from being denied employment, housing, education and more.”
Earlier this session, Niska, a lawyer, added language to the bill that read: “The physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult is not a protected class under this chapter….”
But that sentence was removed from the bill during House-Senate conference committee negotiations and wasn’t in the final version of the bill sent to Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday.
Governor Tim Walz redefined “sexual orientation” to include pedophiles.
Walz did so by signing law that removed @HarryNiska’s amendment to excluded “physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult” from the state human rights law.
Here is Rep. Niska’s floor speech: pic.twitter.com/riRVxemGZX
— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) August 7, 2024
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