NEWS RELEASE
Rep. Mike Freiberg
Minnesota House of Representatives
District 43B – 651-296-4176 – rep.mike.freiberg@house.mn.gov
5th Floor, Centennial Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Marlee Schlegel
651-296-9873 or marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov
March 3, 2025
Rep. Freiberg Statement on Republican Bill to Ban Trans Kids from Sports
St. Paul, MN - Today, the Minnesota House of Representatives took up House File 12, a Republican bill that only serves to bully trans kids and make it more difficult for all girls to play sports in Minnesota. House Democrats were unanimous in their opposition to the bill, which did not receive enough votes to pass the Minnesota House. The bill failed on a vote of 66-67. House Republicans then moved to lay it over for future consideration.
State Representative Mike Freiberg (DFL – Golden Valley) voted against the legislation and released the following statement:
“What Republicans claim was a bill to protect children was clearly a poorly veiled attempt to score political points -- by bullying children.
“It’s time for Republicans to take this body and this work seriously. There are a number of bipartisan proposals and solutions to real problems that are being carelessly thrown on the backburner so that Republicans can parade a MAGA agenda. Once again, DFLers are unified in defending human rights while Republicans continue to attempt to take them away. Trans rights are human rights, and trans kids deserve better than being bullied by politicians.”
Representative Freiberg called Republicans’ bluff about their claimed intent to protect athletes by offering an amendment to require students be vaccinated against diseases like diphtheria, polio, whooping cough, and measles, unless the vaccine is contra-indicated for medical reasons. The amendment was ruled out of order.
Video of today’s floor debate can be found on the House Public Information YouTube channel.
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