House Republicans in Missouri on Wednesday passed two bills targeting the rights of transgender people in the state: a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth and broad legislation that would prohibit trans female athletes from competing in women’s sports.
Under SB 49, health providers in the state are no longer allowed to prescribe or administer hormone therapy or puberty-blocking drugs to any minors in the state unless that minor was receiving such care prior to Aug. 28, 2023.
The bill, which passed in a vote of 108-50 and is just waiting to be signed by the governor, also bans gender-transition surgeries on anyone under 18, though such cases are extremely rare. Violation of the provisions can lead to the loss of a medical professional’s license.
Gender-affirming care — considered “a supportive form of health care” that improves “the mental health and overall well-being of gender-diverse children and adolescents,” according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — is backed by nearly all major medical associations in the U.S.
SB 49 “denies the humanity and identity of transgender children,” the Missouri House Democratic Caucus said in a statement ahead of the vote, slamming it as “bigotry,” “discrimination” and “hate.”
The bill is just the latest push by GOP lawmakers in conservative states to restrict the rights of transgender youth in the U.S., as a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills are introduced and enacted across the nation.
At least 16 states have enacted laws restricting gender-affirming care for minors. The Missouri bill, however, will also affect some adults. Under the new legislation, the state’s Medicaid program, MO HealthNet, will no longer provide gender-affirming care to those in “prisons, jails, and correctional centers.”
A similarly drastic anti-transgender measure was also approved by the Republican-led majority House on Wednesday.
SB 39, which passed in a 109-49 vote, will ban trans women and girls from competing in women’s sports in both public and private schools, including colleges.
House Democrats slammed the passage of the two bills, which they say “persecute and vilify transgender children.”
“House Republicans made it clear they will abuse the awesome power of government to terrorize a small group of innocent children and their families for political advantage,” House Minority Floor Leader Crystal Quade said in a statement.
“This is dehumanizing, reprehensible and a complete failure of the majority to respect and protect the vulnerable among us from government overreach,” the Democrat from Springfield added, while vowing to “never stop fighting this bigotry until all Missourians are safe to openly live as who they are.”
The two bills now head to the desk of Republican Gov. Mike Parson. He has given no indication he would veto them.
According to the American Civil Liberties, 48 bills were introduced in the Missouri state legislature this year alone. Most of them directly restrict the rights of young transgender people.