Despite stalling in the Minnesota Legislature, a Republican-backed bill targeting transgender-inclusive school policies is getting a lot of attention from Minnesota’s religious right.

HF 1546/SF 1543 would ban public schools from implementing transgender-inclusive policies, and repeal the Minnesota State High School League’s transgender-inclusive appeal’s process. That process was adopted in December and creates a process that allows transgender students to participate on the athletics teams that reflect their gender. HF1546 would also repeal transgender inclusive policies adopted in Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts over the last year.

The Minnesota Family Council released an email last week (April 13) that promoted the idea of “ex-transgender” people, much the same way the group has promoted “ex-gays.” It also took a swipe at transgender teen Jazz Jennings. The email states: “It bears asking: What will happen to Jazz in 50 years? What are Jazz’s parents setting him up for for the rest of his life? What will the long-term medical and psychological effects be? Is this path set out for him by his parents really safe and healthy?” [Editor’s note: MFC misgendered Jennings who identifies as a girl]

MFC followed that email up with one that poked fun at transgender-inclusive laws by claiming that the organization was mounting an anti-ageism campaign:

John Helmberger, MFC’s CEO said this about the campaign to end Ageism: “I have a dear friend who sincerely believes he’s an ‘old soul.’ He has identified as an older man since he was quite young. There’s no reason he should not be allowed to access senior citizens’ discount pricing and Medicare now since he self-identifies over age 65, though his age in birth years is 38.”

MFC then asserts that by allowing transgender people to live their authentic lives, it will lead to their own deaths:

How Christians respond to this latest push from LGBTQ activists has profound social, legal, physical, and – most importantly – spiritual consequences. The lie that a boy can be a girl or a girl can be a boy is… “literally leaving casualties in its wake.” What will be the consequences for deeply hurting children who are told that they should live out this lie–ultimately chemically altering their bodies with hormones (of which we don’t know all the long-term effects; the effects we DO know include infertility) or even undergoing genital mutilation to help them embrace the “gender identity” adults are telling them they have? How many gender-confused teens and young adults will end their lives because they can’t find true meaning in the lives society has told them to live? And, last but certainly not least, if we as a culture reject the basic physical condition of being made in the Creator God’s own image as male or female (“God created mankind in His own image…male and female He created them.” Genesis 1:27), then we reject God Himself (“For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20). How can believers spread the Good News about Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to a world that rejects even the most basic physical manifestation of His handiwork?

The Minnesota Child Protection League also sent an email to supporters over the weekend asking for donations to put an ad on social media. The ad is similar to one the group distributed in flier form at the Minnesota Republican State Central Committee meeting two weekends ago.

The email stated:

The young man featured in the above ad is actually “gender non-conforming” meaning that he has chosen to present himself as both genders – male and female. In fact, most people do not know that if he wishes, he can choose what team he will play on, the girls’ or boys.’ And in the Minneapolis and St. Paul School Districts, he can even choose what bathroom, locker room and shower he uses. If you find this disturbing, think of the trauma to other children!…

We cannot let this happen! We need to empower the citizens of Minnesota to move legislators into action. CPLAction is famous for fearlessly taking a strong, clear message to the public. We know we have to give it to them straight! We won’t pretend it’s pretty, or safe. How else will people know this is going on in Minnesota in plain sight? How can parents, families, and voters demand action from Minnesota lawmakers if they don’t know what’s at stake? We have used the ad shown here, but we need to do more! A lot more! We need your help! Can you equip us, empower us, to show this ad all across the state? The work CPLAction does is absolutely essential.

Despite the assertions made by MNCPL, the man in the photo does not identify as “gender Non-conforming.” The Column spoke with the owner of the image last week:

Polina Zadirako of St. Petersburg, Russia, took the image and it’s for sale on Shutterstock for anyone to use. Zadirako runs Queer Studio T, which does artistic photos depicting androgynous, transgender, and gender non-conforming people. The studio also does style, fashion, and makeup for transgender and gender non-conforming people. The Column reached out to Zadirako to learn more about the photo. “This model is my friend. He is gay. He is not transgender.” In fact, the image is clearly labeled as “androgynous man” on Shutterstock where MNCPL likely purchased the image. “It’s sad that the photo if being used by an anti-transgender group,” Zadirako said. “This photo was taken by me, and anyone can buy it, but I think that I can’t do anything” about MNCPL’s use of it.

Here are the email sent out by the Minnesota Family Council and the Minnesota Child Protection League over the last week:

Minnesota Family Council, April 13



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Minnesota Family Council April 17



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Minnesota Child Protection League Action, April 17



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