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Leigh Finke

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Leigh Finke
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 66A district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2023
Preceded byAlice Hausman
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
Children2
ResidenceSaint Paul, Minnesota
EducationBethel University (BA)
DePaul University (MA)
Occupation
  • Media
  • Legislator
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Leigh Finke is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2023. A member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL), Finke represents District 66A in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Roseville and Saint Paul, and parts of Ramsey County in Minnesota.[1][2] She is the first openly transgender member of the Minnesota Legislature.

Early life, education, and career

Finke was born in Minnesota and grew up in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities, graduating from Maple Grove Senior High School in Maple Grove, Minnesota.[1]

Finke earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature in 2003 from Bethel College and a Master of Arts in Shakespeare from DePaul University.[1][3] While at Bethel, she became active in politics protesting the Iraq War.[4]

From 2018 to 2021, Finke was the senior producer at 1517 Media. There, she wrote and produced two documentary films: Ending the Silence: Confronting Sexual Shame in the Church and White Savior: Racism in the American Church. She also edited two nonfiction books for Beaming Books: Queerfully and Wonderfully Made and Welcoming and Affirming.[3]

In 2021 and 2022, Finke worked as Multimedia Storyteller for the ACLU of Minnesota.[5] In late 2022, she was publicly critical of Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen for spreading the transphobic litter boxes in schools hoax.[6]

In March 2023, Finke started the Queer Equity Institute, a nonprofit that supports and encourages queer politicians.[7]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Finke was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2022. She first ran after legislative redistricting and the retirement of 17-term DFL incumbent Alice Hausman.[1]

Finke is the first openly transgender legislator elected to the Minnesota Legislature.[5][4] She said she was motivated to run because of anti-trans bills state Republicans introduced in 2021 that would make it a petty misdemeanor for transgender girls to participate in girls' sports.[4] Finke was a founding member of and chairs the Queer Caucus, a group of LGBTQ+ legislators that formed before the 2023 legislative session.[8][9]

Finke serves on the Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy, Human Services Policy, Judiciary Finance and Civil Law, and Legacy Finance Committees.[1]

LGBTQ+ rights

Finke supported legislation to ban the use of the discredited practice of conversion therapy in the state for minors and vulnerable adults.[8][10] She supported an Iowa school district's policy that required staff and students to use a student's preferred name and pronouns, saying: "We need to be supporting kids. We need to be including and recognizing them and believing them".[11]

Finke sponsored legislation to remove language associating sexual orientation with pedophilia in state law and adding gender identity as a protected class in Minnesota's human rights statute.[12] Republican representatives opposed the measure, some threatening to misgender Finke. Backlash led to Finke receiving death threats.[7] Legal experts dismissed Republican claims that the bill would protect pedophiles, saying, "This doesn't create some sort of broad-based protection for those who prey on minors".[12][7] She also wrote a bill that would repeal a law that criminalized knowingly exposing someone to HIV, calling them "old, outdated homophobic statutes".[13]

Trans refuge bill

Finke authored legislation that would protect people in the state and those traveling to Minnesota to receive gender-affirming care and has consistently opposed Republican efforts to ban transgender healthcare in the state.[14][15][16] During a House floor debate on an amendment to ban transgender healthcare, Finke said: "You want to ban gender-affirming care for minors. What you want to do is you want to make sure minors never grow up to be me".[10] She has also spoken about the need to remove barriers to access to healthcare, including by increasing health insurance coverage.[17]

Finke sponsored an executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care for Minnesotans that Governor Tim Walz signed on March 8, 2023.[18][19] Her bill to protect access to gender-affirming care, the "Trans Refuge Bill", passed the House on March 24, 2023, after five hours of debate and was signed into law by Walz on April 27.[20][21][22]

Other political positions

Finke is pro-choice and supports removing limitations on abortions in the state. She also supports increasing education funding, including raising teacher pay and increasing special education and mental health support.[23]

Awards and honors

In 2023, Finke was named as one of USA Today's Women of the Year, which recognizes women who have made a significant impact across the country.[24] She was highlighted by Minnesota Public Radio's "Changemakers" series, which showcases Minnesotans from diverse backgrounds making an impact in the state.[25]

Electoral history

2022 DFL Primary - Minnesota State House - District 66A[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Leigh Finke 4,034 63.17
Democratic (DFL) Dave Thomas 2,352 36.83
Total votes 6,386 100%
2022 Minnesota State House - District 66A[27]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Leigh Finke 15,635 81.14
Republican Trace Johnson 3,569 18.52
Total votes 19,268 100%
Democratic (DFL) hold
2024 Minnesota State House - District 66A[28]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Leigh Finke (incumbent) 18,166 80.99
Republican Fadil Jama 4,180 18.64
Write-in 84 0.37
Total votes 22,430 100.00
Democratic (DFL) hold

Personal life

Finke is openly transgender and the first openly transgender person to serve in the Minnesota Legislature.[5] She lives in the Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota, and has two children.[1][23]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Finke, Leigh - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.lrl.mn.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  2. ^ "Rep. Leigh Finke (66A) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-02-28. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  3. ^ a b Eidsvoog, Emma; Johnson, Makenzi (2021-03-23). "Places to breathe". bethelclarion.com. Archived from the original on 2022-11-13. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  4. ^ a b c Bierschbach, Briana (August 10, 2022). "Leigh Finke poised to make history as Minnesota's first transgender legislator". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  5. ^ a b c "Leigh Finke to become first transgender legislator in Minnesota House". www.cbsnews.com. 9 November 2022. Archived from the original on 2023-03-08. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  6. ^ Stroozas, Sam (October 3, 2022). "Jensen spreads false rumor about Minnesota's LGBTQ+ youth". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on October 6, 2022. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Olson, Rochelle (July 2, 2023). "Leigh Finke led expansion of Minnesota's transgender rights, endured attacks". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  8. ^ a b Faircloth, Ryan (January 29, 2023). "Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers form Queer Caucus". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  9. ^ Stroozas, Sam (2023-01-17). "'Shaking things up': Minnesota's LGBTQ lawmakers see new strength at Capitol". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  10. ^ a b Faircloth, Ryan (February 20, 2023). "Minnesota House votes to ban conversion therapy for minors". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  11. ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (February 15, 2023). "Pence visits Minnesota, says parents' rights are being 'trampled'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  12. ^ a b Olson, Rochelle (May 18, 2023). "Legal experts say change to Minnesota Human Rights Act won't protect pedophiles". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  13. ^ Nesterak, Max (2023-02-23). "Democrats propose repealing law against knowingly exposing someone to HIV". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  14. ^ Waits, Kelsey (January 23, 2023). "OPINION EXCHANGE | The other refugee crisis: the flight of families with trans kids". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  15. ^ Wiley, Michelle; Ki, Nichole (2023-01-31). "MN bill aims to create legal refuge for trans youth". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  16. ^ Ki, Nichole; Stroozas, Sam (2023-03-02). "What is gender-affirming health care? 'Trans refuge' bill would help kids get it". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  17. ^ Griffith, Michelle (March 24, 2023). "House passes bill making Minnesota a refuge state for transgender people". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  18. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (March 8, 2023). "Gov. Tim Walz signs executive order protecting gender-affirming health care". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  19. ^ Ferguson, Dana (2023-03-08). "Walz moves to protect those seeking gender-affirming care". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  20. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (March 24, 2023). "Minnesota House passes transgender refuge bill". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  21. ^ Ferguson, Dana (2023-03-24). "'You belong here': Minnesota House passes trans health refuge bill". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  22. ^ Bierschbach, Briana (April 27, 2023). "New laws make Minnesota a 'refuge' for abortion, gender-affirming care". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  23. ^ a b Connolly, Colleen (2022-06-28). "Q&A with Leigh Finke, who could be Minnesota's first out trans lawmaker". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  24. ^ Most, Becca (19 March 2023). "'Our movements for justice are lifelong': Meet Minnesota's first transgender legislator". St. Cloud Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  25. ^ Gerezgiher, Feven (2023-06-24). "ChangeMakers: Leigh Finke helped make Minnesota a 'trans refuge' state". MPR News. Retrieved 2023-08-10.
  26. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 66A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on July 22, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  27. ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 66A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on February 28, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2023.
  28. ^ "Results for All State Representative Races". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
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