Protest for Trans Rights

Wednesday, March 29 @ 2 p.m.

Missouri State Capitol (201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101)

LGBTQ+ Missourians have traveled to Jefferson City week after week of this legislative session to testify at the Missouri State Capitol against anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. A total of 34 bills that specifically attack the community are being tracked by both PROMO and the ACLU of Missouri. Fifteen, almost half of those, directly target transgender Missourians either by revoking access to medically necessary, lifesaving gender-affirming healthcare or banning kids as young as kindergartners from playing team sports.

The Missouri Legislature has sent a clear and pointed message to all trans Missourians — you are not valued and your very existence can and should be questioned. Politicians are perfectly content using trans bodies and children as political pawns to drive their own agendas in both the House and Senate. Our Missouri Attorney General’s recent announcement also signifies the state’s willingness to not only remain ignorant of the actual needs of trans Missourians but also its callous attempts to spread misinformation and politicize healthcare for an already at-risk population.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

On Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m., PROMO invites all LGBTQ+ Missourians and allies to join our coalition at the Missouri State Capitol to protest all anti-trans legislation at the “Protest for Trans Rights.” The protest will take place on the steps of the Capitol building located at 201 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65101.

TRANSPORTATION TO JEFFERSON CITY

We want to make this protest accessible to people, so we have three buses scheduled to head to Jefferson City: one from Kansas City, one from Springfield, and one from St. Louis. Buses departure schedules are on the sheet below but will leave between 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. depending on the area. Additionally, buses are scheduled to depart from Jefferson City back to their origin destinations at 5 p.m. Our request is that we keep our buses available to those who truly need assistance in getting to and from Jefferson City. Please fill out the below form if you’re interested in riding the bus from Kansas City, Springfield, or St. Louis.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO HELP

There is an extraordinary amount of work that goes into planning a protest but there is also just as much work that goes into the day of the event. We are looking for those who would like to attend the protest but also volunteer their time on the day by assisting with numerous tasks including leading people from buses to different locations throughout the day, checking in or counting the number of people who are in attendance, handing out posters and signs to hold up in the crowd, or being a reference for those looking for information throughout the day. If this sounds intriguing to you, we encourage you to fill out our volunteer form below.

CAN’T ATTEND BUT STILL WANT TO TAKE ACTION?

Not everyone has the privilege to attend a protest in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday and we understand. We also know each of you likely is looking for a way to support and do what you can to defend our trans siblings who are under attack. The below are a few ways to support the trans community including other direct service organizations we invite you to donate to or volunteer with if you’re able:

• Kansas City: Transformations — a trans women of color led organization investing in trans communities in the Midwest region
• Kansas City: KC Trans Coalition — an emerging, Kansas City-based community organizing group advocating for all trans people
• Kansas City: Northland PRIDE Network — a group assisting LGBTQ+ teens and their families with resources and provide them with an understanding and accepting social network in the Northland
• St. Louis: Metro Trans Umbrella Group — a grassroots nonprofit aimed at bringing together the trans community in the St. Louis metro area
• St. Louis: St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline — a grassroots, community-based, queer-led collective dedicated to facilitating healing spaces and providing holistic support for queer St. Louisans
• Springfield: Springfield Transgender and Ally Resource Team — an organization established in 2023 dedicated to resource building in the Ozark area for the trans community

SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

We encourage you to use the below to spread the word about the “Protest for Trans Rights” on Wednesday, March 29 at 2 p.m. Download or save on your mobile device the images below for Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We’ve also included suggested copy for you to use as well.