It’s been a difficult week. Earlier this week, brave trans kids and their families joined us at the Capitol to share their stories in front of the Senate Education Committee, as legislators debated SB 781 (Moon R-29), a bill banning them from playing sports in schools.
Alongside our youth, parents, and coaches, PROMO was joined in the Capitol by our partners: Athlete Ally (whose mission it is to end the rampant homophobia and transphobia in sport), Lori Lindsey (former USWNT gold medal soccer player), and the Trevor Project (the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people). Our collective stories sent a powerful and vibrant message to our elected leaders that trans kids deserve to be valued and have the same opportunities as all students across our state. We held a press conference that you can tune into on Instagram @PROMOMissouri, or some news regarding our bills here and here.
Yet, the fight isn’t over.
This Monday, March 7 at 6:00 pm, the House General Laws Committee is holding public hearings on the same transgender youth sports ban bills: HB 2197 (Cook R-142), HB 2461 (Burger R-148), and HB 2734 (Basye R-47)!
We can’t iterate enough that all our voices matter. These bills are moving through both our House and Senate Chambers and now is the time to speak out to stop them! If your life has been strengthened by being part of a team, you understand how crucial inclusion is for all Missouri youth.
Take action with us:
- Make calls to the House General Laws Committee
- Join us on Monday, March 7 at 6:00 pm to testify in person. To join fill out this form.
- Donate to PROMO to help us support those testifying in-person
We need your help NOW to call the House General Laws Committee and tell them to OPPOSE HB 2734 and all their bills banning transgender youth from playing sports.
With all the stress that this week brought to transgender youth across our state, we were also able to celebrate a major policy win in one of our municipalities. This week, St. Louis County signed policy into law expanding their nondiscrimination ordinance to include protecting Gender Expression. We are grateful to County Executive Sam Page, Councilwoman Lisa Clancy, and Legislative Assistant, Carter Gibson for making the County a more inclusive and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people to live and thrive. We look forward to working with many more municipalities across our state.
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
