No, Tim Walz did not sign bill including pedophilia as 'sexual orientation' | Fact check
The claim: Tim Walz signed a bill redefining ‘sexual orientation’ to include pedophiles
An Aug. 7 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) includes an image of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz surrounded by children.
“Democrat VP Candidate Tim Walz Signed a Bill Redefining the Term ‘Sexual Orientation’ to INCLUDE PEDOPHILES,” reads the start of the post.
It was shared more than 200 times in less than a week. Another version of the claim spread widely on X, formerly Twitter.
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Our rating: False
The bill Walz signed into law does no such thing. The state's definition of sexual orientation does not include pedophilia.
Legislative change cuts reference to pedophilia
Minnesota Rep. Leigh Finke, a member of the state's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, introduced HF1655, also known as the Take Pride Act, in February 2023. The bill aimed to update the state's Human Rights Act to protect against LGBTQ+ discrimination and included a proposal to modernize the state's definition of sexual orientation.
The bill proposed removing the following line from the definition: “’Sexual orientation’ does not include a physical or sexual attachment to children by an adult.”
That proposed removal, to sever any perceived link between sexual orientation and pedophilia, led to mischaracterizations that the bill intended to give discrimination protection to pedophiles.
Though HF1655 was never voted on as a standalone bill, some of its language was later folded into the Omnibus Judiciary and Public Safety appropriations bill, which Finke told USA TODAY is a “very common process for bills in Minnesota legislature.”
Walz signed the bill into law on May 19, 2023, dropping the "does not include..." reference to pedophilia that had been in place since 1993.
The state's statutory definition of sexual orientation now reads:
"'Sexual orientation' me
But changing the definition doesn't somehow mean pedophiles are now protected from discrimination or legal repercussions.
Michael Boucai, a professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has done research on sexuality and law, told USA TODAY in 2023 that sexual orientation has never been legally interpreted to include pedophilia.
"I’m unaware of any antidiscrimination law – ever – whose reference to 'sexual orientation' was intended by legislators or has been interpreted by courts to encompass pedophilia," he previously told USA TODAY.
Finke also said at the time that social media posts were mischaracterizing her bill.
"Nothing in the bill changes or weakens any crimes against children, or the state's ability to prosecute those who break the law," Finke said in 2023. "Of course, pedophilia is not a sexual orientation – which is why the language never should have been included in the statutory definition in the first place."
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USA TODAY previously debunked a false claim that an image shows a Fox Business graphic about Walz's "communist agenda" and that Peggy Flanagan replaced Walz as Minnesota’s governor after he became Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
USA TODAY reached out to users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
AFP, Check Your Fact and Snopes also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
Leigh Finke, Aug. 12, Email exchange with USA TODAY
Minnesota Legislature, accessed Aug. 12, S.F. No. 2909
Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, accessed Aug. 12, Minnesota Statutes 2023
USA TODAY, May 10, 2023, Posts misinterpret Minnesota bill that redefines sexual orientation | Fact check
Minnesota Legislature, March 13, 2023, HF 1655
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim about Walz bill on sexual orientation, pedophilia
