Trans Resource Navigator

Minnesota

ID documents
Protective
Care
Protective
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
Yes, protects care

Minnesota is one of the more protective states for trans people.

More about Minnesota

You can choose M, F, or X on a driver's license or state ID without any medical proof, name changes need no newspaper publication, Medical Assistance and state-regulated health plans must cover medically necessary gender-affirming care, and a 2023 "trans refuge" law (HF 146) shields patients, families, and providers from other states' bans. Two things take more effort than in some states: a name change requires a short court hearing with two witnesses, and changing the sex on a Minnesota birth certificate needs a physician's letter or a court order.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    YesNo newspaper notice, court hearing required
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDMinnesota DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    YesM, F, or X with your own signed form
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Minnesota
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    LimitedM or F with a letter from a doctor

Born somewhere other than Minnesota? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Allowed
Gender-affirming care is legal for adults and minors in Minnesota.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, LGBTQ Clinic[5]

    Free 20-minute phone appointments with a volunteer attorney on LGBTQ legal questions, including name and gender marker changes for adults and minors. Statewide; apply online or call 612-752-6677.

    • Free

    Serves: Statewide

    612-752-6677

  • Gender Justice[6]

    Saint Paul legal advocacy organization that takes gender-equity impact cases, including trans rights and health care coverage. Not a general referral service; submit the online legal assistance form.

    • Free
    651-789-2090663 University Avenue W, Suite 200, Saint Paul, MN 55104

  • OutFront Minnesota, Anti-Violence Program helpline[7]

    Minnesota's statewide LGBTQ advocacy organization. Its Anti-Violence Program helpline (800-800-0350) supports LGBTQ people who have experienced violence, and its online directory lists LGBTQ-friendly clinics, therapists, and lawyers.

    • Free
    800-800-03502446 University Ave W, Saint Paul, MN

  • Trans Lifeline[8]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español
Sources for this page (8)

Sources

8 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. Laws 2023, chapter 29 (HF 146), gender-affirming health care refuge lawMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “An act relating to children; preventing the use of subpoenas to gather information for out-of-state laws interfering in the use of gender-affirming health care”
  2. Minn. Stat. § 256B.0625, subd. 3a, Gender-affirming care (Medical Assistance)Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “Medical assistance covers gender-affirming care, as defined in section 62Q.585.”
  3. Minn. Stat. § 62Q.585, Gender-affirming care coverage; medically necessary careMinnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes, Law. accessed
    “No health plan that covers physical or mental health services may be offered, sold, issued, or renewed in this state that (1) excludes coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming care”
  4. Identity document laws and policiesMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  5. VLN LGBTQ ClinicLawHelpMN (Minnesota Legal Services Coalition), Organization. accessed
    “Meeting topics include, but are not limited to, legal advice regarding name and gender marker changes for both minors and adults”
  6. Legal AssistanceGender Justice, Organization. accessed
  7. Anti-Violence ProgramOutFront Minnesota, Organization. accessed
  8. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed