'Sanctuary state': Walz signed law making Minnesota destination for transgender therapies for kids

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Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz is not 'normal,' CNN contributor says

CNN contributor Scott Jennings argued against claims that Vice President Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, was a "normal" candidate.

Vice President Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, brings a track record to the Democrat ticket that could help energize the country's left-wing base along with several progressive transgender policies aimed at children.

Walz, a former Army National Guardsman and a former teacher, was one of the first governors to sign into law a bill making Minnesota a "sanctuary state" for children seeking transgender surgical procedures and hormone prescriptions. This laid the groundwork for several of his more progressive LGBTQ policies. 

The law tells courts in Minnesota not to follow prosecutions from other states against people who come to Minnesota for treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgery. Before the law was passed, Walz had already issued an order in May 2023 to prevent criminalization of transgender procedures in the state.

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Democrat presidential nominee Vice President Harris and running mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrive at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

As neighboring states like Nebraska, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota restrict medical providers from performing transgender medical procedures on children, Minnesota’s sanctuary law has turned the state into a key destination for such services.

Many individuals and families have reportedly moved from more restrictive states to Minnesota. Currently, 26 states have placed limits on doctors providing gender-affirming treatments to minors, with New Hampshire being the latest to join this list.

Walz also signed a controversial bill into law that prevents books, which may include explicit material for children, from being removed from public schools in an effort to clap back at parents who complained about certain LGBTQ+ materials in school libraries. 

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Transgender activists at a protest.  (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

The bill also made it illegal to remove books written by or about LGBTQ+ and minorities. 

In 2023, Walz signed a law banning "conversion therapy," which also included prohibiting counselors from withholding recommendations for transgender surgical procedures or hormonal treatments for individuals experiencing gender dysphoria.

Another key component of his transgender policy agenda is a law requiring free menstrual products in all public school bathrooms. Often called the "tampon law" in the media, it mandates that tampons and pads be provided at no cost in public schools for grades 4 through 12 to accommodate transgender students. 

After Harris tapped Walz as her running mate, former President Trump's campaign and its supporters began referring to him as "Tampon Tim."

"She actually chose Tampon Tim," Trump campaign adviser Stephen Miller, posted to X following the announcement.

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Walz championed many transgender policies.

Walz also opposes the traditional definition of marriage as defined as between one man and one woman, further aligning himself with the progressive flank of the Democratic Party who argue the definition is archaic and discriminatory against non-traditional couples. 

As a U.S. House representative in 2012, Walz opposed a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage solely as a union between one man and one woman. He argued that restricting rights for any group is unconstitutional, saying, "I think we can do better."

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Walz additionally played a crucial role in supporting legislation that recognizes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories under federal hate crime laws. 

Harris and Walz are now traveling across several battleground states to court voters this week, as the pair have already begun attacking the Trump-Vance campaign.