Minnesota House Bill HF5128

Minnesota 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/21/24
• Refer: 3/21/24

Caption

Minnesota Women's Bill of Rights created, and terms of all statutes and rules defined.

Impact

If enacted, HF5128 will significantly alter the legal landscape concerning how sex is classified and understood within Minnesota law. The bill emphasizes biological distinctions and proposes a framework for interpreting and enforcing sex discrimination laws, which may affect policies in public schools, government facilities, and healthcare settings. By defining sex strictly and excluding gender identity from legal considerations, the bill aims to reinforce protections against what it calls unjust discrimination, while also allowing for the establishment of separate environments based on biological sex.

Summary

House File 5128, referred to as the Minnesota Women's Bill of Rights, seeks to define and codify terms related to sex and gender across all state statutes and rules. The bill establishes clear definitions for 'woman', 'man', 'girl', 'boy', 'mother', 'father', and 'sex', maintaining a strict binary classification based on biological sex at birth. The intent behind this legislation is to affirm the legal recognition of only two sexes and to restrict the usage of terms related to gender identity or other non-biological definitions.

Contention

The introduction of HF5128 has sparked a significant debate among lawmakers and advocacy groups. Proponents argue that the bill is necessary for protecting women's rights and ensuring fairness in environments like sports, bathrooms, and domestic violence shelters. They emphasize that separating facilities based on biological sex is crucial for safety and privacy. In contrast, opponents worry that the bill undermines gender identity, disregards the needs of transgender individuals, and may perpetuate discrimination against non-binary and intersex individuals. The debate encapsulates larger national conversations surrounding gender rights and equality.