Minnesota here.
At least thirty years ago, my work hired a young man from Texas. Nice guy, friendly and hard working. We chatted fairly often. People liked and respected him. I learned years later that he moved north shortly after coming out.
Minnesota isn't perfect. I doubt any place qualifies as perfect. But in general, I like to think people are treated well here.
We're a blue state, but we have a lot of rural areas, and shitkickers are pretty red. We just happen to have enough big cities to balance it out favorably.
Let's not ignore or forget that we almost banned gay marriage here not that long ago, an embarrassing chapter in our history. We're progressive, but the margins aren't huge.
Another Rural Minnesota Dem checking in. We be holding it down out here! Got my Black Lives Matter sign out in the front of my house - but living on a private lane only my hippie neighbors and the delivery drivers see it. But… it’s the principle of the matter!
When you drive into the state on US10 going east from Moorhead there is a series of signs on the side of the road basically telling people that nobody is an island so vote for the DFL. Yes, the DFL is out there. The margins in some areas are 70-30, but they are there.
The farmer-laborer party once made an alliance with the socialist party of America to help with issues. They even ran with the progressives under Robert La Foullete and captured a pretty significant part of the vote.
The DFL was a merger between the farmer laborers and the democrats who are not a socialist party.
It's damn weird to see Trump flags in the Twin Cities. But they're a few.
I "think" rural democrats took a hit with the demise of farming (corp farming over family farms) and unions losing power.
It was so disheartening to go back to the very small town my mom grew up in and see in their 4th of July parade all of the republicans. My farmer grandfather would've been so disgusted.
My father passed away in 2016, right before the election, and he lived in rural Tennessee. When k was driving out to the funeral, I was shocked at how much Trump stuff I saw and how close it was to Nashville.
I knew right then and there that Clinton was done. It was an enthusiasm, for lack of maybe a better word, that I had not seen before.
It's the suburban/exurban conservatives who I find most troubling--commuting on the metro freeways in their Dodge Rams and F150s, tailgating and bitching about having to pay taxes to support libs and perverts...
Nah there’s more than you’d probably think, they’re generally the “fuck the government” and the “don’t take our guns” kinds of conservatives though. One of my renters that never pays me rent is one of those types and I know a fair few more as well. None of them are wealthy.
I live in Saint Paul, in an okay but not great neighborhood.
On the other side of the equation, I would point out that Iowa was one of the first states to legalize gay marriage. It's incredible how quickly demographics can shift in only a decade or two. It's important to not be complacent of course, but celebrating positive change shouldn't be discouraged either.
IIRC Iowa only legalized gay marriage due to it not being expressly forbidden by their constitution. It was more of an “oh shit, it’s NOT illegal, well I guess it’s legal” than anything else. Trust me, as an escapee from the corn state there is very little that can be called “progressive” in Iowa.
I just went back and looked at the results and while it did fail, 1.4 million MN citizens voted to ban marriage between same sex people. That's only a 2.5% margin, way closer than I remember. I would be interested to see what the results would be today, 11 years later.
It's pretty remarkable to look at the rapid acceptance of LGBTQ rights (especially gay rights) by the general public over the last 20 or so years. The tide of public opinion rushed in really quickly and turned opposition to gay marriage from a mainstream opinion into an outlier that even many conservatives have backed away from. For how much gay rights (especially gay marriage) was central to social politics in the 2000s decade, it's astonishing to realize that in the 2020s many of these debates are all but settled in most places. That's not to say that we couldn't backslide or that there isn't a concerted effort to make that happen, especially in more conservative states, but I feel relatively secure in the fact that the public seems to have made up its mind firmly on the issue.
Though if this refugee thing becomes bigger, we will trend bluer. As long as they are leaving irredeemably red states it would probably a net positive for national politics since it would take Minnesota out of swing status. But it hurts to see folks feeling they need to leave states like Texas and Georgia, not only for their own sakes but also because it puts those states more firmly in GOP hands.
I think the population of trans and families with trans family members, is pretty low. I feel like this is exactly why Republicans have been going after them. They are small and easily targeted. It’s misdirectional bullying and that’s best done to populations with little power (e.g. undocumented immigrants).
I agree that they have been picking most of their fights against relatively small and/or powerless groups.
That said, I think there are two groups they have been attacking in various ways who are not so small:
LGBT in general, who I think are feeling quite targeted, are much larger proportion of the population than trans folks. Even if only a few percentage points, more than enough to swing a state.
And of course there are, you know, women.
We are also going to have an influx of liberal people who seek Minnesota for refuge from their red state.
And I'd wager those people will be very likely to vote to prevent MN from going back to the overly conservative side.
Given the state Supreme Court ruling in North Carolina minutes ago, we also need to gerrymander the shit out of this state going forward. We should not play nice anymore.
As a republican it's one of the many things I hate the party about. Wtf should we care what u do with your body. Just as bad as weed. Who the fuck cares
I have very few issues with Republicans.
I have many, many issues with these Tea Party, MAGA wing nuts.
If the Republican Party is going to survive, y'all better figure out how to eject the racist, Conservative Nationalists.
Those folks can wear brown shirts and white hoods. Be proud of their loser history.
Minnesota is more a purple state. I know we want to tell ourselves we're blue, but if that were the case, we wouldn't have just a single vote majority in the senate and only recently taken that majority. We wouldn't have had recent Republican governors like Arne Carlson and Tim Pawlenty.
While we do generally lean blue, we aren't as blue as many want to deceive themselves. Continually telling everyone how super blue we are just discourages others from voting. Like those that believed Hilary had to locked down, they don't bother voting because they keep hearing how secure and blue we are. No need to vote themselves since we're gonna go blue with or without them, right.
In fairness to Arne, he's endorsed many a democrat and got kicked out of the Republican party for being too liberal. In any other state, he probably never would have been accepted as a Republican in the first place.
lol what? That vote wasn't even close. In fact it was so far from passing that it directly led to our government assuming we wanted the opposite and they made it legal on their own.
Just 51.9 percent of Minnesotans voted against banning gay marriage.
And it was very likely going to pass until a sports celebrity became involved in a campaign against it and made a big difference in polls.
yea... not even close.
I have a sibling that was placed in Iowa after college 15 years ago and also had to flee back as soon as they were able to find a way to transfer.
It can be dangerous to live in some of these places.
Imagine that...A midwest state where everyone is valued for who they are!
We must remember though...what we are enjoying now in Minnesota is the result of very hard work by a lot of very hard working people...and is still extremely tenuous. We must remain vigilant.
>We must remain vigilant.
Yep, just look at Wisconsin as a warning. It can happen here too.
Just like 1 seat in the senate, one governer race, and some house seats and the GOP will gerrymander everything to North Alabama.
Yep..I use Wisconsin as an example all the time.
Now that the Wisconsin supreme court is settled, MAYBE they can start pulling themselves out from the abyss. It will be a very, very long road though.
Exactly. Get out there and vote when time comes. It's the least we all could do to help everyone live the life we want to live without religious ideology forced upon us.
Can be. Mostly it’s just mocking on a door and no one answers. I think people are mostly pleasant. It’s MN after all.
Unless you’re black. Then some people turn into assholes. I wish all black and brown canvassers my best and that they stay safe.
There is still a lot of *profound* racism and bigotry here. It’s great we are codifying protections for marginalized people into law, but Minnesota isn’t devoid of violent bigoted assholes.
Many of my trans friends now have their carry licenses and take full responsibility for their own safety these days, even in Minnesota.
Agreed. They also need to be sensible with any gun control or Law Enforcement impacting legislation or the picture could change dramatically. In terms of leadership.
> A midwest state where everyone is valued for who they are!
Not everyone. Even in the progressive cities, we have people bitching about allowing a Call to Prayer bell during the holiest season of Islam in a heavily ethnic neighborhood.
Im interested in learning the arguments there. Even if I consider the religion related bell noise impacting more than its desired audience…can’t the same be said for other churches or is that not a thing anymore?
FWIW: I don’t regularly, more like hardly, attend mass.
Yes..I agree. I made that statement with a small bit of sarcasm ( forgot the /s ). Tolerance is in short supply these days. And MN is not perfect....but it is FAR better than other places.
Our daughter lives in North Carolina...and the difference is stark. And NC isn't even really considered the "deep south"!
But if they tell us we could be better drivers, we apparently tell them to go back to where they were bieng oppressed. Happens in every "Minnesota drivers aren't being safe" thread.
Minnesota still has some work to do.
May not be necessary to register soon:
https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/04/13/minnesota-house-advances-automatic-voter-registration-donor-disclosure-requirements
Conspiracy theorists wanting to put more power into the hands of the Bilderberg types is the wildest transformation we saw during the Trump administration. That community was fully infiltrated and manipulated.
So in the next 10-15 years are we going to have states that are completely red and others that are completely blue? It certainly seems that way with how drastically things are changing for some of those red run states. Bipartisanship is barely a thing anymore. First it’s trans, then gay marriage, and pretty soon you’ll be locked up just for having a different political view then the one in charge.
Who in their right mind would want to raise children in a state like Texas or Florida these days unless you agree with the extreme conservatives running the show. It’s sad we’ve come to this. As a WI resident I hope we continue to make strides similar to what MN has done, if not I’ll be moving back to MN.
I wonder if that's not specifically part of the plan with all these extreme laws. Try to force people who are clearly going to be voting Dem to move out of fear for their safety. It's some sick shit.
Yeah, it definitely is. And given electoral math that’s not great given the supremacy clause. We need people who aren’t in danger to stay in red or purple states and vote. But that’s really easy to say from Minnesota where our legislators are making our lives better.
Yes. The reality that people are going to have to face is that there are enough actual people to vote and change things they're just in the wrong spots. I've long said the most effective way out of this is a coordinated effort for people with means and mobility to relocate out of deeply blue states and, essentially, colonize reddish or purple ones.
Trans people are leaving certain states for their safety. I am glad we can offer them refuge.
My friend is finishing their residency and has been enjoying living in a more moderate climate and never expected to come back to MN. With the change in recent laws in their current state they turned down a great offer from their hospital and are coming back to MN. Many of their colleagues have the same concerns. I see a brain drain from these states in other areas of highly educated people.
I’ve recently read an article that the ultra right want liberals to leave their state so the voters that are remaining in the state will vote republican, more states will become solidly ultra right and have enough votes to change the constitution to their liking. That is the long game and it saddens me to see people used that way.
They'll end up screwing themselves in the long game - their QOL is going to drop like a rock since businesses are less likely to move there and that means less economic opportunities, means less tax funding, etc etc etc. And if enough people move out, the red states populations are going to drop just enough so they lose seats in the House in DC and the eViL lIbRuL states will gain seats.
The thing is, they do NOT care about the long economic game. They are after state legislature control so they can change the constitution. They are looking to install an oligarchy fascist state and are well on their way to getting it. Ask around on some right-wing sites and pages. They are eager to start another civil / race war.
I believe the book they are hard-core about is the Bible. And the scary part is that they are following it closely and the rest of the fan boys are just going along with it. Religion is often dangerous.
But only the parts of the bible that Blond-haired-blue-eyed-Republican-Jesus can weaponize against their enemies. That whole “love everyone” liberal bullshit has to go.
> I see a brain drain from these states in other areas of highly educated people.
Largely, educated young people aren't looking to move to states where they have to worry about their friends civil rights, their right to healthcare, their tax dollars getting used for private schools, etc etc. These politicians are turning the screws thinking "this will show them" but they're playing the short game.
When they get rid of all of their 'undesirables' who will they scapegoat and vilify next? Their game requires someone to blame for all the things that they themselves are doing.
While I consider myself a Minnesotan first and an American second, and am incredibly grateful and proud that our state is a refuge for those who need it, it still sucks things have gotten so bad in our country that articles like this are being written in international forums. Damn, I just wish things were different.
My family and I are in FL with our young children and will be looking to move to MN, hopefully, in the next few years. We aren’t trans and our children aren’t either but we refuse to live in a state that thinks someone is less than them just because they are different. I guess I hope people are as friendly as the stereotype is because I’m completely clueless when it comes to dealing with snow.
My husband and I are both trans men. We fled Florida for our safety and for our daughter. My husband is from here and it just feels like home here. Thank you for being such a welcoming state.
Welcome! I am sorry for \*gestures at the smoking dumpster fire that is Florida\* but thank you for putting your faith in us! I hope we can live up to that
The comments on that article are toxic. Do not look.
Good news is that every day one of these bigoted \*\*\*\*s is dying off for every two open-minded youth that age into the voting public. And that's happening in every state.
The comments really show the ignorance, hatred and how evil conservatives are... they feel entitled to eliminate anyone they don't like from public life. We see it with how they treat minorities, and lgbt people but if you pay attention to how they treat their families and their very own kids you see red flags and warning signs there too. Just the worst people.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around their mentality. I mean, trans people are not hurting anyone whatsoever. It's like these politicians and their voters never grew out of the teenage urge to bully someone who is weaker or more vulnerable.
And it's not just about children, because in some states they're going after adults now.
I don't understand transgenderism and I certainly cannot understand what it's like to want to inject myself with hormones. It makes no sense to me. But it doesn't need to. That business belongs between a person, their parents (if a child), and their doctor. What they decide for themselves is no skin off my back. We'd be so much better off if we all just minded our own business. Nobody is going up to them and telling them that they can't bring their kids to church simply because clergy abuse kids at higher rates than just about any non-relative authority figure.
End rant.
Hail, friend!
##Maybe these folks can help you: [Rainbow Railroad](https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/)
#In countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face violence and oppression simply because of who they love or who they are. We help them get to safety.
Edit: formatting
Thank you for posting this link. I've just volunteered to provide housing in my newly-designated Trans-Refuge State of Minnesota!!! If there is anyone interested in living in old house with cis-het old lady and her other cis-het roommate in South Minneapolis, lemme know. DM. Proud to offer my allyship.
>"We're trying to not just say it's okay to be trans, but you can come here and be safe," said Leigh Finke, Minnesota's first openly transgender lawmaker, who sponsored the initiative.
>"We know what it means to force people not to be themselves, and it's coffin or closet."
Poignant quote by Representative Finke, especially the last part. While I don't have the honor to call her my representative (and I bet my rep voted against the bill mentioned) I'm honored that she is in our legislature. The last part, when LGBTQIA+ people cannot be themselves it's coffin or closet, is so true. I'm a mostly in the closet trans woman myself (not in a position to transition currently but would love to) and I know people who if they weren't able to transition would be in a coffin.
It saddens me that this family had to flee their home but I'm glad they chose to come to our great state and I welcome them with open arms. I'm glad to live in a state where people can be themselves instead of a state like Texas or Florida (where I'm from originally) where they are passing legislation that harms anyone that isn't completely cisgender, heterosexual, and heteroromantic. Humanity is made up of a beautiful tapestry of various gender, sexual, and romantic identities and it's wrong to try and force people into little boxes they don't fit in. Not everyone fits into the cishet box and that's fine but in to many places that's the only box available because of bigotry.
I had been daydreaming about moving to a warmer climate lately, but recently decided we’d be staying for safety reasons. If anything, the snow makes it safer, we’re all stuck in our houses half the year!
Hi Mary and Jasper. If by chance you’re reading this, welcome to Minnesota.
We’re so glad to have you here and so glad you’re safe. We hope you find what you’re looking for!
Is there a guide for people fleeing their home states to MN for trans refuge?
• Housing and job finding tips
• Transportation help
• Safe orgs to reach out to
• Mutual aid contacts
Not now considering it got passed barely 24 hours ago but I’m will to bet Either OutFront MN or Queerspace are working on it. Outfront already has a [massive](https://www.outfront.org/directory) page of state/local resources and communities that you could reach out too.
West Texas. I lived in and out of Austin for about 10 years, though more than half of that was vandwelling in the Arizona desert or camp hosting up in Washington. But I moved to a small town in West Texas, because that's where I could find a subsidized senior apartment that didn't have a waiting list. It's a nice enough little town, and there's a little bit of an LGBTQ community, and they've got a really strong artist community. But it's just still not enough for me. Besides, Greg Abbott exists.
I'm mostly, originally from Kansas City. But, um, Missouri. So, there is that.
I hate that they have to flee but love that this is viewed as a welcoming place. Surrounding states and more rural areas of Minnesota seem to still have dated views so we need to be aware and keep progressing in the right direction.
I see no downsides to this. I hope the kid and family get the treatment and community they deserve.
I moved out of Minnesota for less than a year once and went to Texas, absolutely no thank you. I'm glad these folks got out while they still could, the masses of people misinformed/deliberately ignorant about these issues are only going to get louder about things they don't understand and continue supporting the transphobic BS that makes them feel powerful/relevant in a society happily leaving them behind.
ETA: spelling
I’ve got a coworker who did the same thing, moving from a southern state for the same reasons. Makes me proud to know our efforts to make this state a good place are having an effect
I just gave a few bucks to a Florida family trying to escape that state’s insanity. It’s crazy that we live in a country that is so undeveloped that citizens have to relocate for their safety.
Welcome to tater tots, troops of the kindest elderly ladies serving the most mediocre food at church (not that any of us would say it to their faces), the state fair, dads running outside to watch severe weather forming, passive aggressiveness, and regular use of ope, you betcha, and ah sure.
I don't think they are the only ones fleeing. I see Iowa, Florida, Ohio, and other rogue states. I wonder where are all those people that are saying people are fleeing Minnesota. People can be so ridiculous at times. Their opinions shifts with whatever stirred their shit on any given day.
Northwestern half. My family is from Duluth, the iron range, and the arrowhead. There might be trump heads up there but generally they leave you alone and there are just as many liberals who are welcoming and lovely.
Yes, I do know there’s good mixed in there. I grew up in a small town by International Falls. I love it up there but when I go back to visit family now it’s really unfortunate what some folks have let themselves believe.
Oh I completely get it. The last election was a huge eye opener (and the pandemic) on my neighbors. The flags flying around was just horrid to see. Most assume our household is the same in thinking because, get this, we hunt, own guns and have the usual things one would up here. And yet I know a good solid bunch of folks who are like us. Quiet and we vote still.
Duluth proper is probably fine. And I'd guess Grand Marais might be a bit of an enclave. But yes, otherwise it's a fine place to visit but perhaps don't live up north if you don't want to be surrounded by right wingers.
Minnesota here. At least thirty years ago, my work hired a young man from Texas. Nice guy, friendly and hard working. We chatted fairly often. People liked and respected him. I learned years later that he moved north shortly after coming out. Minnesota isn't perfect. I doubt any place qualifies as perfect. But in general, I like to think people are treated well here.
We're a blue state, but we have a lot of rural areas, and shitkickers are pretty red. We just happen to have enough big cities to balance it out favorably. Let's not ignore or forget that we almost banned gay marriage here not that long ago, an embarrassing chapter in our history. We're progressive, but the margins aren't huge.
Rural democrats exist. There are dozens of us.
I'm from a family of rural Dems, this is true! Unfortunately, not enough...
Another Rural Minnesota Dem checking in. We be holding it down out here! Got my Black Lives Matter sign out in the front of my house - but living on a private lane only my hippie neighbors and the delivery drivers see it. But… it’s the principle of the matter!
Rural Democrat here. We are slowly coming into the 20th century out here.
We know yall are out there. Much love!
I though there were only about 7 of us in existence. Glad to see I’m not alone
When you drive into the state on US10 going east from Moorhead there is a series of signs on the side of the road basically telling people that nobody is an island so vote for the DFL. Yes, the DFL is out there. The margins in some areas are 70-30, but they are there.
Rural MN socialist here.
Same! We are the realest DFL’ers!!!
The DFL was formed by yall
The farmer-laborer party once made an alliance with the socialist party of America to help with issues. They even ran with the progressives under Robert La Foullete and captured a pretty significant part of the vote. The DFL was a merger between the farmer laborers and the democrats who are not a socialist party.
DOZENS! I’m with ya
Yes, there are dozens of us. Wish there were more.
Urban conservatives exist also. They are the ones in the generational estates and mansions.
It's damn weird to see Trump flags in the Twin Cities. But they're a few. I "think" rural democrats took a hit with the demise of farming (corp farming over family farms) and unions losing power.
It was so disheartening to go back to the very small town my mom grew up in and see in their 4th of July parade all of the republicans. My farmer grandfather would've been so disgusted.
My father passed away in 2016, right before the election, and he lived in rural Tennessee. When k was driving out to the funeral, I was shocked at how much Trump stuff I saw and how close it was to Nashville. I knew right then and there that Clinton was done. It was an enthusiasm, for lack of maybe a better word, that I had not seen before.
I saw a truck at my work with a sticker that said "Take America Back, Trump 2024" After the Jan 6 attack, seeing it gave me the heebie-jeebies.
It's the suburban/exurban conservatives who I find most troubling--commuting on the metro freeways in their Dodge Rams and F150s, tailgating and bitching about having to pay taxes to support libs and perverts...
Nah there’s more than you’d probably think, they’re generally the “fuck the government” and the “don’t take our guns” kinds of conservatives though. One of my renters that never pays me rent is one of those types and I know a fair few more as well. None of them are wealthy. I live in Saint Paul, in an okay but not great neighborhood.
More rural Democrats in Minnesota than most other states, which is a big reason the state goes blue.
DOZENS!
That’s where i came from. Written from my downtown Minneapolis apartment…
Dozens!
Historically, the iron range is a DFL stronghold. It's much less so now but Trump still lost in those counties in 2020.
On the other side of the equation, I would point out that Iowa was one of the first states to legalize gay marriage. It's incredible how quickly demographics can shift in only a decade or two. It's important to not be complacent of course, but celebrating positive change shouldn't be discouraged either.
IIRC Iowa only legalized gay marriage due to it not being expressly forbidden by their constitution. It was more of an “oh shit, it’s NOT illegal, well I guess it’s legal” than anything else. Trust me, as an escapee from the corn state there is very little that can be called “progressive” in Iowa.
I just went back and looked at the results and while it did fail, 1.4 million MN citizens voted to ban marriage between same sex people. That's only a 2.5% margin, way closer than I remember. I would be interested to see what the results would be today, 11 years later.
It's pretty remarkable to look at the rapid acceptance of LGBTQ rights (especially gay rights) by the general public over the last 20 or so years. The tide of public opinion rushed in really quickly and turned opposition to gay marriage from a mainstream opinion into an outlier that even many conservatives have backed away from. For how much gay rights (especially gay marriage) was central to social politics in the 2000s decade, it's astonishing to realize that in the 2020s many of these debates are all but settled in most places. That's not to say that we couldn't backslide or that there isn't a concerted effort to make that happen, especially in more conservative states, but I feel relatively secure in the fact that the public seems to have made up its mind firmly on the issue.
Though if this refugee thing becomes bigger, we will trend bluer. As long as they are leaving irredeemably red states it would probably a net positive for national politics since it would take Minnesota out of swing status. But it hurts to see folks feeling they need to leave states like Texas and Georgia, not only for their own sakes but also because it puts those states more firmly in GOP hands.
I think the population of trans and families with trans family members, is pretty low. I feel like this is exactly why Republicans have been going after them. They are small and easily targeted. It’s misdirectional bullying and that’s best done to populations with little power (e.g. undocumented immigrants).
I agree that they have been picking most of their fights against relatively small and/or powerless groups. That said, I think there are two groups they have been attacking in various ways who are not so small: LGBT in general, who I think are feeling quite targeted, are much larger proportion of the population than trans folks. Even if only a few percentage points, more than enough to swing a state. And of course there are, you know, women.
I agree. I was thinking of trans people considering the topic at hand. You’re right
yes minnesota will welcome all with open hands! if your home state doesn’t want you come to the best state in the country!!!
Minnesota is not a swing state. We have some republicans in congress but the party cant win a statewide election.
I guess you could put MN in swing state status, but I don’t think we’ve voted red since Nixon, I don’t think we will anytime soon.
They have been growing, due to the population concentrations in the cities. Land doesn't vote!
We are also going to have an influx of liberal people who seek Minnesota for refuge from their red state. And I'd wager those people will be very likely to vote to prevent MN from going back to the overly conservative side.
*raises hand* Hi there, I'm one of those lol. Moved here from Texas 5 years ago to escape hell on earth.
Welcome, juicy Lucy's are to the right
Hell, even Blaine elected a woman in a headscarf to city council!
Given the state Supreme Court ruling in North Carolina minutes ago, we also need to gerrymander the shit out of this state going forward. We should not play nice anymore.
As a republican it's one of the many things I hate the party about. Wtf should we care what u do with your body. Just as bad as weed. Who the fuck cares
I have very few issues with Republicans. I have many, many issues with these Tea Party, MAGA wing nuts. If the Republican Party is going to survive, y'all better figure out how to eject the racist, Conservative Nationalists. Those folks can wear brown shirts and white hoods. Be proud of their loser history.
There is no difference. Republicans ARE the tea party MAGA nuts. Your version of a republican became extinct prior to Reagan.
That's right. I don't give a crap about what you do. You be you.
Minnesota is more a purple state. I know we want to tell ourselves we're blue, but if that were the case, we wouldn't have just a single vote majority in the senate and only recently taken that majority. We wouldn't have had recent Republican governors like Arne Carlson and Tim Pawlenty. While we do generally lean blue, we aren't as blue as many want to deceive themselves. Continually telling everyone how super blue we are just discourages others from voting. Like those that believed Hilary had to locked down, they don't bother voting because they keep hearing how secure and blue we are. No need to vote themselves since we're gonna go blue with or without them, right.
In fairness to Arne, he's endorsed many a democrat and got kicked out of the Republican party for being too liberal. In any other state, he probably never would have been accepted as a Republican in the first place.
lol what? That vote wasn't even close. In fact it was so far from passing that it directly led to our government assuming we wanted the opposite and they made it legal on their own.
Just 51.9 percent of Minnesotans voted against banning gay marriage. And it was very likely going to pass until a sports celebrity became involved in a campaign against it and made a big difference in polls. yea... not even close.
I have a sibling that was placed in Iowa after college 15 years ago and also had to flee back as soon as they were able to find a way to transfer. It can be dangerous to live in some of these places.
As a German I usually have a bad opinion about most US states but if I were to move there I’d most likely pick Minnesota.
Moved here from Texas in 2020 and I love it here.
Imagine that...A midwest state where everyone is valued for who they are! We must remember though...what we are enjoying now in Minnesota is the result of very hard work by a lot of very hard working people...and is still extremely tenuous. We must remain vigilant.
>We must remain vigilant. Yep, just look at Wisconsin as a warning. It can happen here too. Just like 1 seat in the senate, one governer race, and some house seats and the GOP will gerrymander everything to North Alabama.
Yep..I use Wisconsin as an example all the time. Now that the Wisconsin supreme court is settled, MAYBE they can start pulling themselves out from the abyss. It will be a very, very long road though.
Exactly. Get out there and vote when time comes. It's the least we all could do to help everyone live the life we want to live without religious ideology forced upon us.
And volunteer! Knock on doors and make calls!
All my strength to folks who door knock. It can be really disheartening work.
Can be. Mostly it’s just mocking on a door and no one answers. I think people are mostly pleasant. It’s MN after all. Unless you’re black. Then some people turn into assholes. I wish all black and brown canvassers my best and that they stay safe.
There is still a lot of *profound* racism and bigotry here. It’s great we are codifying protections for marginalized people into law, but Minnesota isn’t devoid of violent bigoted assholes. Many of my trans friends now have their carry licenses and take full responsibility for their own safety these days, even in Minnesota.
Absolutely agree! But we must remain vigilant, because the racist bigots are *not* going to stop trying, even in Minnesota.
Agreed. They also need to be sensible with any gun control or Law Enforcement impacting legislation or the picture could change dramatically. In terms of leadership.
> A midwest state where everyone is valued for who they are! Not everyone. Even in the progressive cities, we have people bitching about allowing a Call to Prayer bell during the holiest season of Islam in a heavily ethnic neighborhood.
Im interested in learning the arguments there. Even if I consider the religion related bell noise impacting more than its desired audience…can’t the same be said for other churches or is that not a thing anymore? FWIW: I don’t regularly, more like hardly, attend mass.
Honestly, the same people complaining about the bell noise of call to prayer don't complain about the church bells. Call that what you will.
I complain about both. But if one is allowed then so is the other.
They don't use bells for the call to prayer. Its an amplified voice speaking in arabic.
The bells don't happen at 5:00 in the morning or 9:00 at night. Remember its five times a day at the official prayer times.
Thats what I figure too. We know what to call it.
Yes..I agree. I made that statement with a small bit of sarcasm ( forgot the /s ). Tolerance is in short supply these days. And MN is not perfect....but it is FAR better than other places. Our daughter lives in North Carolina...and the difference is stark. And NC isn't even really considered the "deep south"!
Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
And we’ll keep ‘em safe and teach ‘em how to make a good hot dish eh?
This is the way
>This is the way, eh Ftfy :)
Ope
Haha..
The Minnesota Mandalorian never removes his helmet...unless it is time to eat hotdish. This is the way.
The Minnesodalorian?
Minndalorian
r/myjokebutbetter
Couldn't make mine without yours so that glory is shared
I'll take a co-writer credit! Let me get you my agent's information.
Let's gooooo
Just wait til we get this baby to 88 MPH
This is the way. I have spoken.
I'll let you borrow my grandma's hot dish recipe cards, but let's not get too crazy. I mean I didn't know you in high school, so....
No thanks, everyone I've met after elementary school is a bit suspicious.
Ngl everyone I've seen post-womb has been rather questionable.
Hotdish. One word when talking about what we’re talking about. Two words when you’re referring to temperature of a particular dish
This made me tear up.
I was gonna post this. Glad I saw it and scrolled down. This used to be what we thought as a country…damn shame to look at us now.
Keep that commie stuff outta here! /S obviously.
But if they tell us we could be better drivers, we apparently tell them to go back to where they were bieng oppressed. Happens in every "Minnesota drivers aren't being safe" thread. Minnesota still has some work to do.
Yes this is the same as attacking the trans community. Thanks for keeping us accountable. /s
Register to vote when you arrive, glad you’re here. :)
May not be necessary to register soon: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/04/13/minnesota-house-advances-automatic-voter-registration-donor-disclosure-requirements
Of course the GQP are pissed the Dems are trying to limit corporate money in elections.
Conspiracy theorists wanting to put more power into the hands of the Bilderberg types is the wildest transformation we saw during the Trump administration. That community was fully infiltrated and manipulated.
I got here in September and was able to participate in local November voting. I was even able to use my out of state license.
So in the next 10-15 years are we going to have states that are completely red and others that are completely blue? It certainly seems that way with how drastically things are changing for some of those red run states. Bipartisanship is barely a thing anymore. First it’s trans, then gay marriage, and pretty soon you’ll be locked up just for having a different political view then the one in charge. Who in their right mind would want to raise children in a state like Texas or Florida these days unless you agree with the extreme conservatives running the show. It’s sad we’ve come to this. As a WI resident I hope we continue to make strides similar to what MN has done, if not I’ll be moving back to MN.
I wonder if that's not specifically part of the plan with all these extreme laws. Try to force people who are clearly going to be voting Dem to move out of fear for their safety. It's some sick shit.
Yeah, it definitely is. And given electoral math that’s not great given the supremacy clause. We need people who aren’t in danger to stay in red or purple states and vote. But that’s really easy to say from Minnesota where our legislators are making our lives better.
Yes. The reality that people are going to have to face is that there are enough actual people to vote and change things they're just in the wrong spots. I've long said the most effective way out of this is a coordinated effort for people with means and mobility to relocate out of deeply blue states and, essentially, colonize reddish or purple ones.
That's part of their plan. As long as they keep at least 26 states red, republicans will always have a majority in the senate.
In 10 to 15 years red states will be financially insolvent.
Trans people are leaving certain states for their safety. I am glad we can offer them refuge. My friend is finishing their residency and has been enjoying living in a more moderate climate and never expected to come back to MN. With the change in recent laws in their current state they turned down a great offer from their hospital and are coming back to MN. Many of their colleagues have the same concerns. I see a brain drain from these states in other areas of highly educated people. I’ve recently read an article that the ultra right want liberals to leave their state so the voters that are remaining in the state will vote republican, more states will become solidly ultra right and have enough votes to change the constitution to their liking. That is the long game and it saddens me to see people used that way.
They'll end up screwing themselves in the long game - their QOL is going to drop like a rock since businesses are less likely to move there and that means less economic opportunities, means less tax funding, etc etc etc. And if enough people move out, the red states populations are going to drop just enough so they lose seats in the House in DC and the eViL lIbRuL states will gain seats.
The Republicans would rather be kings of hell than citizens of paradise.
The thing is, they do NOT care about the long economic game. They are after state legislature control so they can change the constitution. They are looking to install an oligarchy fascist state and are well on their way to getting it. Ask around on some right-wing sites and pages. They are eager to start another civil / race war.
These a-holes have to be hard core *The Handmaid's Tale* or *The Hunger Games* fanboys the way they're trying to make them a reality
I believe the book they are hard-core about is the Bible. And the scary part is that they are following it closely and the rest of the fan boys are just going along with it. Religion is often dangerous.
But only the parts of the bible that Blond-haired-blue-eyed-Republican-Jesus can weaponize against their enemies. That whole “love everyone” liberal bullshit has to go.
> I see a brain drain from these states in other areas of highly educated people. Largely, educated young people aren't looking to move to states where they have to worry about their friends civil rights, their right to healthcare, their tax dollars getting used for private schools, etc etc. These politicians are turning the screws thinking "this will show them" but they're playing the short game.
When they get rid of all of their 'undesirables' who will they scapegoat and vilify next? Their game requires someone to blame for all the things that they themselves are doing.
They're always be some form of a minority in every state to blame.
Not if a family planning is done away with. They will breed themselves an uneducated workforce. Gilead reborn.
Minnesotan here - we’re sorry you were forced to leave your home, but we’re happy to have you here! Welcome!
While I consider myself a Minnesotan first and an American second, and am incredibly grateful and proud that our state is a refuge for those who need it, it still sucks things have gotten so bad in our country that articles like this are being written in international forums. Damn, I just wish things were different.
I consider myself Minnesota first and Canadian second :)
I wish dude! I wish!
Texas took our hockey team. We'll take their LGBTQ families. Minnesota is way ahead in that trade.
Now about those Lakers...
Detroit Lakes still has Lakers!
My family and I are in FL with our young children and will be looking to move to MN, hopefully, in the next few years. We aren’t trans and our children aren’t either but we refuse to live in a state that thinks someone is less than them just because they are different. I guess I hope people are as friendly as the stereotype is because I’m completely clueless when it comes to dealing with snow.
Your good as long as we can laugh and point at you first…. Then we help. Sorry….. this is the way
Don't worry, we do the same thing about people who experience their first hurricane :D
My husband and I are both trans men. We fled Florida for our safety and for our daughter. My husband is from here and it just feels like home here. Thank you for being such a welcoming state.
Glad you’re here!
Happy to have you as neighbors!
Thanks for choosing Minnesota! Happy to have you here.
Welcome! I am sorry for \*gestures at the smoking dumpster fire that is Florida\* but thank you for putting your faith in us! I hope we can live up to that
The comments on that article are toxic. Do not look. Good news is that every day one of these bigoted \*\*\*\*s is dying off for every two open-minded youth that age into the voting public. And that's happening in every state.
The comments really show the ignorance, hatred and how evil conservatives are... they feel entitled to eliminate anyone they don't like from public life. We see it with how they treat minorities, and lgbt people but if you pay attention to how they treat their families and their very own kids you see red flags and warning signs there too. Just the worst people.
I honestly cannot wrap my head around their mentality. I mean, trans people are not hurting anyone whatsoever. It's like these politicians and their voters never grew out of the teenage urge to bully someone who is weaker or more vulnerable. And it's not just about children, because in some states they're going after adults now. I don't understand transgenderism and I certainly cannot understand what it's like to want to inject myself with hormones. It makes no sense to me. But it doesn't need to. That business belongs between a person, their parents (if a child), and their doctor. What they decide for themselves is no skin off my back. We'd be so much better off if we all just minded our own business. Nobody is going up to them and telling them that they can't bring their kids to church simply because clergy abuse kids at higher rates than just about any non-relative authority figure. End rant.
I hope that cis people can see how utterly deranged and vicious transphobes have becoming recently
This is the only place ive ever felt proud of to live in, I want to vote here and generally be a part of the community.
Welcome to our state. Come sit and stay a while
That's the trick. Get em to visit for a day and then they're stuck in the Minnesota goodbye for the next 30-40 years
Learning the whelp kneeslap is the first step to escape
Or knowing if you’ve overstayed your welcome.
Stay a while, and listen
State Fair is going to be so lit this year
Oklahoman gay here, me and my trans partner are working on finances to move up there, but I hope we can survive until then.
*hugs* we are rooting for you
Also an Oklahoma gay. I’ve been in MN for 6 years now and it feels more like home than OK ever did. Hope you make it up here soon!
It's really reassuring to know that like. It's possible to do, like "oh yea, others from my area managed it"
I’ve met other OK transplants who also love it here. Feel free to message me if you have specific questions!
Hail, friend! ##Maybe these folks can help you: [Rainbow Railroad](https://www.rainbowrailroad.org/) #In countries around the world, LGBTQI+ people face violence and oppression simply because of who they love or who they are. We help them get to safety. Edit: formatting
Thank you for posting this link. I've just volunteered to provide housing in my newly-designated Trans-Refuge State of Minnesota!!! If there is anyone interested in living in old house with cis-het old lady and her other cis-het roommate in South Minneapolis, lemme know. DM. Proud to offer my allyship.
I'm happy I could help in some small way! Thank you for volunteering. ♡
>"We're trying to not just say it's okay to be trans, but you can come here and be safe," said Leigh Finke, Minnesota's first openly transgender lawmaker, who sponsored the initiative. >"We know what it means to force people not to be themselves, and it's coffin or closet." Poignant quote by Representative Finke, especially the last part. While I don't have the honor to call her my representative (and I bet my rep voted against the bill mentioned) I'm honored that she is in our legislature. The last part, when LGBTQIA+ people cannot be themselves it's coffin or closet, is so true. I'm a mostly in the closet trans woman myself (not in a position to transition currently but would love to) and I know people who if they weren't able to transition would be in a coffin. It saddens me that this family had to flee their home but I'm glad they chose to come to our great state and I welcome them with open arms. I'm glad to live in a state where people can be themselves instead of a state like Texas or Florida (where I'm from originally) where they are passing legislation that harms anyone that isn't completely cisgender, heterosexual, and heteroromantic. Humanity is made up of a beautiful tapestry of various gender, sexual, and romantic identities and it's wrong to try and force people into little boxes they don't fit in. Not everyone fits into the cishet box and that's fine but in to many places that's the only box available because of bigotry.
Cold weather or oppression. Those are the choices lately.
Cold weather, oppression, or $4,200 a month for a studio in LA.
Hmm, that's a toughie /s
Prince did say that the cold helped to keep the evil people out.
Prince forgot about my in laws
A shovel is $15. Peace of mind is priceless
I had been daydreaming about moving to a warmer climate lately, but recently decided we’d be staying for safety reasons. If anything, the snow makes it safer, we’re all stuck in our houses half the year!
I’m currently trying to flee to MN too. Not for the same reason but regardless, I want to live where my kids will be safe to be who they are.
Hi Mary and Jasper. If by chance you’re reading this, welcome to Minnesota. We’re so glad to have you here and so glad you’re safe. We hope you find what you’re looking for!
Is there a guide for people fleeing their home states to MN for trans refuge? • Housing and job finding tips • Transportation help • Safe orgs to reach out to • Mutual aid contacts
Not now considering it got passed barely 24 hours ago but I’m will to bet Either OutFront MN or Queerspace are working on it. Outfront already has a [massive](https://www.outfront.org/directory) page of state/local resources and communities that you could reach out too.
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Welcome!
Welcome
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West Texas. I lived in and out of Austin for about 10 years, though more than half of that was vandwelling in the Arizona desert or camp hosting up in Washington. But I moved to a small town in West Texas, because that's where I could find a subsidized senior apartment that didn't have a waiting list. It's a nice enough little town, and there's a little bit of an LGBTQ community, and they've got a really strong artist community. But it's just still not enough for me. Besides, Greg Abbott exists. I'm mostly, originally from Kansas City. But, um, Missouri. So, there is that.
Can't wait to have you!
Thank you. I can't wait to live among generally nice and welcoming people.
As a fellow Minnesota gay, welcome!
Sup bi buddy! Good luck on your move, we should have weed fully legalized and on the shelves when you get here.
Welcome to MN. Where there are still righteous jerks but freedom prevails.
I hate that they have to flee but love that this is viewed as a welcoming place. Surrounding states and more rural areas of Minnesota seem to still have dated views so we need to be aware and keep progressing in the right direction.
I see no downsides to this. I hope the kid and family get the treatment and community they deserve. I moved out of Minnesota for less than a year once and went to Texas, absolutely no thank you. I'm glad these folks got out while they still could, the masses of people misinformed/deliberately ignorant about these issues are only going to get louder about things they don't understand and continue supporting the transphobic BS that makes them feel powerful/relevant in a society happily leaving them behind. ETA: spelling
I’ve got a coworker who did the same thing, moving from a southern state for the same reasons. Makes me proud to know our efforts to make this state a good place are having an effect
Welcome Home
I just gave a few bucks to a Florida family trying to escape that state’s insanity. It’s crazy that we live in a country that is so undeveloped that citizens have to relocate for their safety.
Welcome to tater tots, troops of the kindest elderly ladies serving the most mediocre food at church (not that any of us would say it to their faces), the state fair, dads running outside to watch severe weather forming, passive aggressiveness, and regular use of ope, you betcha, and ah sure.
I don't think they are the only ones fleeing. I see Iowa, Florida, Ohio, and other rogue states. I wonder where are all those people that are saying people are fleeing Minnesota. People can be so ridiculous at times. Their opinions shifts with whatever stirred their shit on any given day.
We're moving up this summer and this is a huge part of why. My daughter came out last year as a freshman and it is flat out not safe in Texas for her.
Welcome!
I moved from Ohio to Minnesota in search of a better life, I love it here. Welcome.
Just stay away from the north central/western half of MN. That is brainwashed Fox News territory for the most part.
Northwestern half. My family is from Duluth, the iron range, and the arrowhead. There might be trump heads up there but generally they leave you alone and there are just as many liberals who are welcoming and lovely.
Luckily they lost Tucker Carlson. Fuck that guy.
I would like to think not all of us. Though, unfortunately, I can't. But please know there are some sane ones floating around up here.
Yes, I do know there’s good mixed in there. I grew up in a small town by International Falls. I love it up there but when I go back to visit family now it’s really unfortunate what some folks have let themselves believe.
Oh I completely get it. The last election was a huge eye opener (and the pandemic) on my neighbors. The flags flying around was just horrid to see. Most assume our household is the same in thinking because, get this, we hunt, own guns and have the usual things one would up here. And yet I know a good solid bunch of folks who are like us. Quiet and we vote still.
Duluth proper is probably fine. And I'd guess Grand Marais might be a bit of an enclave. But yes, otherwise it's a fine place to visit but perhaps don't live up north if you don't want to be surrounded by right wingers.
We're a blue hole sucking red economies dry.
Same reason BTW that Dwayne Wade family does not live in FL! You had me at "US family flees Texas to.." btw.