Transgender Dem Rep Fights to Keep Porn Flowing to ‘Queer’ Children for ‘Educational Purposes’ [WATCH]

Democratic Minnesota state Rep. Leigh Finke said during a Thursday hearing that pornography could be “educational” for “queer” children while speaking against proposed legislation that would require age verification to access adult websites.

The bill, HF 1434, would mandate age verification for websites deemed “harmful to minors.”

Under the proposal, sites that fail to implement age verification measures could face civil action from the state attorney general as well as private citizens.

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During testimony on the bill, Finke argued that such laws could be used to restrict access to content that some youth may view as educational.

“The AGs in many states are, are very clear about that they’re almost jubilant about being able to use these laws to ban young people from accessing content that could be educational if they are queer,” Finke claimed during the Thursday hearing.

Finke also referenced sex education in schools. “And you’re a principal, you have LGBT students in your school, and we also know that they’re not receiving sex education for queer kids. We know that,” Finke said.

Addressing the language often used in legislation regulating adult content, Finke added, “Prurient interest could be for many people the very existence of transgender kids. More and more people are saying there simply are no transgender kids.”

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HF 1434 is designed to apply to websites considered “harmful to minors,” requiring operators to verify the age of users before granting access. The measure allows for enforcement through legal action initiated by the state attorney general or by private individuals.

Finke, a biological male who identifies as a transgender woman, has previously sponsored legislation related to gender identity and child medical procedures.

In 2023, Finke authored HF146, legislation described as “trans refuge” legislation concerning child sex change procedures. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed that bill into law on April 27, 2023. Walz was his party’s nominee for vice president in 2024.

Finke also authored legislation in 2023 that would remove an exception for pedophiles in the context of protections against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

Following criticism of that measure, Finke stated that the backlash came from individuals who “used the opportunity to amplify the hatred of trans people.”

Finke later received a “Children’s Health Hero” award from the Children’s Minnesota hospital system for authoring HF146.

The debate over HF 1434 comes amid broader national discussions about access to adult content and age verification requirements.

Supporters of similar laws in other states have argued that such measures are necessary to prevent minors from accessing explicit material online. Opponents have raised concerns about privacy, enforcement, and the scope of content that could be restricted.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 20, 2025, declaring the federal government’s recognition of the “biological reality of sex” and defining terms such as male, female, man, woman, boy and girl. He later issued an order targeting child sex change procedures.

The Minnesota hearing highlighted divisions over how states should regulate online content and what constitutes material that is “harmful to minors.”

Finke’s remarks centered on the potential impact such restrictions could have on LGBT youth and access to information.

The legislation remains under consideration.

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