No, Tim Walz did not sign a bill classifying pedophilia as a “sexual orientation.”

The claim: Tim Walz signed a bill that redefines “sexual orientation” to include pedophiles

A Facebook post from August 7 (direct link, archive link) includes a picture of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz surrounded by children.

“Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz has signed a bill that redefines the term ‘sexual orientation’ to include PEDOPHILES,” the post begins.

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 makes no such provision. The state definition of sexual orientation does not include pedophilia.

A change in the law shortens the 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 sought to update the state’s human rights law 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 an adult’s physical or sexual attachment to children.”

The proposed deletion, in order to resolve any perceived connection between sexual orientation and pedophilia, created the false narrative that the bill was intended to provide pedophiles with protection from discrimination.

Although HF1655 was never voted on as a standalone bill, some of its language was later incorporated into the omnibus Justice and Public Safety appropriations bill, which Finke told USA TODAY is a “very common process for bills in the Minnesota Legislature.”

Walz signed the bill on May 19, 2023, removing the reference to pedophilia “does not include…” that has been in effect since 1993.

The state’s legal definition of sexual orientation is now:

However, changing the definition does not mean that pedophiles are now protected from discrimination or legal consequences.

Michael Boucai, a professor at the University at Buffalo School of Law who has conducted research on sexuality and law, told USA TODAY in 2023 that sexual orientation has never been legally interpreted to include pedophilia.

“I am not aware of any anti-discrimination law – ever – where reference to ‘sexual orientation’ was intended by the legislature or interpreted by the courts to include pedophilia,” he previously told USA TODAY.

Finke also said at the time that social media posts misrepresented her bill.

“Nothing in the bill changes or weakens any crimes against children or the state’s ability to prosecute those who violate the law,” Finke said in 2023. “Of course, pedophilia is not a sexual orientation – which is why the wording should never do that .” were included in the legal definition in the first place.”

Fact check: GOP critics say Tim Walz left Minnesota ‘burning’ during 2020 protests. Here’s what happened

USA TODAY previously debunked a false claim that an image showed a Fox Business graphic about Walz’s “communist agenda” and that Peggy Flanagan replaced Walz as governor of Minnesota 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 refuted the claim.

Our fact-checking sources:

• Leigh Finke, Aug. 12, email exchange with USA TODAY

• Minnesota Legislature, accessed August 12, SF No. 2909

• Minnesota Revisor of Statutes, accessed August 12, Minnesota Statutes 2023

• USA TODAY, May 10, 2023, Posts misinterpret Minnesota bill redefining 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 and pedophilia