Helpline:
800-800-0350
800-800-0350
Our Mission & Vision
Our mission is to build power within Minnesota’s 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and address inequities through intersectional organizing, advocacy, education, and direct support services.
We envision a safe and equitable world where all members of our communities are free to lead lives of opportunity, autonomy, and full self-expression.
Theory of Change
OutFront Minnesota believes that lasting change requires a multifaceted, intersectional, and cooperative approach to addressing inequities at every level. We engage in collaborative work that spans legislative advocacy, community organizing, culture change through education and training, and direct aid to address the needs in our communities. All of this work is community-centered, prioritizes systems change, and is carried out through meaningful community partnerships. We believe that through these actions we can advance 2SLGBTQIA+ rights and build a more just and equitable Minnesota for all.
Statement of Inclusion
We are committed to an inclusive vision of the LGBTQ+ community where all—including Two Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, gender expansive, intersex, asexual, aromantic, questioning, and other individuals regardless of the labels and language they use—feel welcomed, supported, and reflected in our work. The movement for queer and trans rights is strongest when we are all working together to provide support and build a better future.
Statement of Intersectionality
OutFront Minnesota is committed to intersectional and inclusive work across all that we do. We recognize that the work of LGBTQ+ equity is deeply intertwined with racial justice movements, disability justice, gender & reproductive rights, immigrant rights, Indigenous rights, labor movements, environmental justice, and many other civil and social justice movements. Our work is shared work and our solutions must be comprehensive. Together, we seek to build on the strengths of those intersections, to engage in meaningful partnerships with organizations and individuals across these spaces, and drive change that reflects and supports the diversity and depth of our communities.
Leading Minnesota Toward LGBTQ+ Equality
OutFront Minnesota was founded in 1987 to fight for LGBTQ+ justice and equity. Over the past 36 years we have worked to ensure that our values of liberation and intersectional justice guide our work until full equality under the law and full equity in practice is realized.
We successfully passed a statewide nondiscrimination law that included sexual orientation AND gender identity as protected statuses in 1993—the first law that included protections for our trans community members. We won marriage by defeating an anti-marriage amendment at the ballot box and passing marriage equality through the legislature in 2013. We ensured that our kids have safe and supportive environments to learn in by passing the Safe and Supportive Schools Act in 2014 and the Trans Toolkit in 2017. In 2023 we passed both the Conversion Therapy Ban and the Trans Refuge Bill. Our fight is not over and our supporters are needed more than ever.
OutFront Minnesota Milestones
A Foundation of Local Activism
Out North: LGBTQ History
Local LGBTQ+ History Resources
Learn More
- Ehrenhalt, Lizzie. "Over the Rainbow: Queer and Trans History in Minnesota." MNopedia.org. May 25, 2021
- Van Cleve, Stewart. Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, 2012.