On Tuesday, March 1 at 12:00 pm the Senate Education Committee will hear SB 781 (Moon R-29), a dangerous attack on transgender youth in our state.
SB 781 would bar transgender youth from participating on a sports team that corresponds with their gender identity.
PROMO knows that every student deserves a fair chance to succeed in school and prepare for their future — including students who are transgender. The values that athletics bring to a student’s life — teamwork, cooperation, leadership, endurance — are important for every student, especially LGBTQ+ athletes. High school is hard enough for transgender students, who face high rates of bullying, harassment and mistreatment. Being excluded from sports can be devastating to already vulnerable transgender youth, given that sports can play an invaluable part of students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being.
We can’t reiterate enough that your voices matter — all our voices matter. If your life has been strengthened by being part of a team, you understand how crucial inclusion is for all Missouri youth.
There are three ways to take action now!
- Make calls to the Senate Education Committee
- Join us on Tuesday, March 1 at 12:00 pm to testify in person. To join email shira@promoonline.org and tschafer@aclu-mo.org. If you’re joining PROMO and ACLU-MO to testify in-person, mark your calendar to join us for a message training session on Sunday, 27 at 4:00 pm on Zoom.
- Donate to PROMO to help us support those testifying in-person
We need your help NOW to call the Senate Education Committee and tell them to OPPOSE SB 781.
We decided long ago that discrimination is wrong and that everyone should have the same opportunities to participate — that should include transgender youth, and that should include equal opportunity for all LGBTQ+ Missourians.
Legislators see PROMO in the Capitol every day, demonstrating the vigilance, persistence, and expertise required to make certain Missouri laws protect and enhance the lives of all LGBTQ Missourians. Continue following PROMO’s legislative tracker to stay current on the opportunities and threats to LGBTQ+ rights in Missouri. Join us with your voice!
In Equality,
Shira Berkowitz, Sr. Director Public Policy and Advocacy
