>> DEMOCRATS N THE SOUTH THAW ARE PRO TOBACCO.

DEMOCRATS IN THE OUTH THAT ARE PRO TOBACCO.

>> Cathy: THURSDAY, A PRIDE TOWN HALL WAS HELD IN MINNESOTA'S DISTRICT 66 WITH DFL LAWMAKERS REPRESENTING St. PAUL, AND RECENTLY THE QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS LISTED ACHIEVEMENTS FROM ITS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.

HERE WITH US NOW TO TALK PRIORITIES AHEAD, THE CHAIR OF QUEER LEGISLATORS CAUCUS, DFL REPRESENTATIVE LEIGH FINKE.

WELCOME BACK TO "ALMANAC."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU FOR THE INVITATION.

>> Cathy: WHAT DID YOU HEAR AT THE TOWN HALL MEETING?

>> WE HAD A GREAT TOWN HALL, SO DISTRICT 66 IS THE FIRST ALL-QUEER REPRESENTED DISTRICT IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME.

WE HEARD A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST ABOUT WHAT WE HAD PASSED.

WE HEARD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT BLOCKED THE E.R.A.

FROM GETTING OVER THE FINISH LINE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT ENVIRONMENT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF INTEREST IN WHAT WE HAD GOTTEN DONE.

>> Eric: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE E.R.A.

I HEARD THAT NATIONAL MONEY WAS NOT COMING IN BECAUSE IT WAS NEEDED IN STATES THAT AREN'T AS FAR ALONG AS MINNESOTA.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE THAT IT GOT SCUTTLED?

>> WELL, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CAMPAIGN QUESTION.

YOU'LL HAVE TO ASK THE ADVOCATES.

I WOULD SAY THAT WE MOVED THE E.R.A.

IN THE HOUSE.

WE DEBATED IT FOR 15 HOURS.

TO TALK ABOUT YOUR -- TO GO BACK TO YOUR PREVIOUS GUEST.

WE HAD A VERY ROBUST AND THOROUGH DEBATE.

AND WE GOT IT DONE.

BUT THE SENATE JUST RAN OUT OF TIME.

WE HAD A LOT TO DO.

WE HAD A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, AND AS YOU KNOW, WE HAD TO DO URGENT ACTIONS AT THE END TO FINISH OUR AGENDA.

>> Cathy: WHAT WERE THE CONTROVERSIAL PARTS OF THE E.R.A.

THAT YOU THINK WERE JUST A BRIDGE TOO AR FOR SOME LAWMAKERS?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A BRIDGE TOO FAR, BUT I THINK EVERY TIME THAT WE TRIED TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE, THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO DIG IN THEIR HEELS.

THERE IS NO BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR TRANS PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO KEEP THE MAJORITY IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT MY COMMUNITY.

THAT'S MY PRIORITY.

THAT'S WHY I GOT BEHIND THE E.R.A.

IN THE WAY THAT I DID.

AND WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE COME BACK AND FINISH THE JOB.

>> Eric: WE'RE A REFUGE STATE NOW.

>> UM-HUM.

>> Eric: THAT MEANS WHAT, PRACTICALLY?

>> YEAH, SO WE PASSED A TRANS REFUGE BILL LAST YEAR, AND WHAT IT MEANS IS THAT IF YOU NEED ACCESS TO GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, ND YOU LIVE IN A STATE THAT DOES NOT ALLOW ACCESS, YOU CAN TRAVEL TO MINNESOTA AND RECEIVE YOUR CARE.

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT PEOPLE AREN'T REALLY TRAVELING TO MINNESOTA.

THEY'RE JUST MOVING.

PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO GET GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE FOR THEIR CHILD AND THEN MOVE BACK TO A STATE THAT AS TAKEN AWAY THEIR RIGHTS.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY JUST MOVING OVER TO THE STATE.

SO WHAT THE TRANS REFUGE IS REALLY BECOMING IS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE LIVING HERE, COMING HERE, OR WHO LIVE NEARBY?

>> Eric: SO SAFETY OF IS A CONCERN?

>> YEAH, RIGHT.

IT'S AN ONGOING PROMISE, RIGHT.

THAT'S HOW I VIEW IT.

WE ARE A REFUGE STATE.

WE SAID WE WOULD PROTECT TRANS PEOPLE, THAT MEANS WE NEED TO NOT JUST PROVIDE THEM HEALTHCARE BUT PROVIDE THEM SAFE SCHOOLS FOR THEIR KIDS, WE NEED TO HAVE THEM RESPECTED IN HEIR WORKPLACES, PROTECT THEIR ACCESS TO HOUSING, I WANT TO BUILD A REFUGE STATE FOR TRANS PEOPLE IN ALL AVENUES OF OUR LIVES.

>> Cathy: YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE TRANS LAW NOW, AND FOLKS ARE MOVING HERE, ARE THERE ENOUGH PROVIDERS, THOUGH, TO PROVIDE THE CARE?

>> YEAH, THERE ARE NOT.

THERE ARE DEFINITELY NOT.

AND THAT'S NOT UNIQUE TO MINNESOTA.

WE NEED MORE GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE PROVIDERS.

WAIT TIMES ARE GETTING LONGER.

THAT WAS ALREADY A PROBLEM BEFORE WE PASSED THE TRANS REFUGE LAW.

BUT I WILL SAY, I TALK TO FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMING AND WHILE WE WANT TO SHORTEN THE WAIT TIMES FOR THOSE DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS, BUT A LOT OF FAMILIES ARE SAYING, WE'RE JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE, WE HAVE AN APPOINTMENT, IT'S NEXT YEAR, MY KID IS EXTREMELY HAPPY THAT THAT IS TRUE, AND THEY'RE FEELING MUCH SAFER IN THEIR SCHOOL, SO WE DO ABSOLUTELY NEED TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM, BUT WE CAN'T LET THAT GET IN THE WAY OF THE MASSIVE SUCCESS THAT PEOPLE FEEL WHEN THEY GET HERE.

>> Eric: BUSINESS GRANTS, INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE, A MILLION DOLLARS FOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE SUCCESS IN THE '24 SESSION?

>> I'M VERY SATISFIED WITH THE SUCCESS, BUT, I MEAN, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH.

A MILLION DOLLARS IS A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY, BUT IT'S NOT NEARLY ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR SHELTER SPACES, WE NEED TO SOLVE THE HOMELESSNESS CRISIS, WE HAVE S.U.D.

AND SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SITUATION, THAT I THINK REALLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

THERE'S LOTS MORE WORK TO DO.

>> Eric: ALL RIGHT.

>> Cathy: THE CAUCUS TALKS ABOUT WANTING TO HAVE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE SOCIETY FOR ALL LGBTQ+ INDIVIDUALS.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

>> I MEAN, I TALK ABOUT A LOT -- A LOT ABOUT TRANS LIBERATION, WHICH I THINK IS THE SAME, THAT'S WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME, AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS, EVERYONE CAN BE WHOEVER THEY ARE WHEREVER THEY ARE.

RIGHT?

IF YOU LIVE IN ANY COMMUNITY IN MINNESOTA, NO MATTER WHAT YOUR RACE IS, NO MATTER YOUR ECONOMIC STATUS, YOUR GENDER IDENTITY OR YOUR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, YOU CAN LIVE FREELY, SAFELY, AND BE A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU CHOOSE.

>> Eric: APPRECIATE YOU COMING OVER.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THE