DONATE NOW
  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Board of Directors
    • Meet the PROMO Staff
    • Current Openings
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Join PROMO’s Capitol Club
  • Events
  • News
    • Blog
  • Resources
  • Shop
  • Missourians Aging with Pride (MAP)

Missouri Attorney General Appoints LGBT Liaison

By PROMO

June 18, 2009

Tweet
Pin
Share
0 Shares

Joan Gummels serves as an Assistant Attorney General and worked during the legislative session as liaison to the legislature. Gummels, a lawyer who has worked in public service since graduating from law school, had previously worked in the AG’s office under now-Governor Jay Nixon. Her appointment earlier this month represents the fulfillment of a campaign promise by Koster to assure that the rights of LGBT persons would be addressed by the AG’s office. Gummels will work with a newly created division dedicated to civil rights and ADA compliance.

A.J. Bockelman, Executive Director of PROMO, applauded Attorney General Koster for his commitment to equal rights of all the citizens of Missouri. “The appointment of Joan Gummels represents a great moment in the state of Missouri. This is the first appointment of a liaison to the LGBT community by a statewide official.”

Bockelman added, though, that there is still a long way to go. “The stark reality is that LGBT persons can still be fired or thrown out of their apartments in this state simply because they are LGBT, and it’s perfectly legal. PROMO will continue to work for the passage of MONA, the Missouri Non-discrimination Act, in the Missouri General Assembly next session to assure equal protection under the law for LGBT persons and give Assistant Attorney General Gummels a firm foundation to work for equality. PROMO also calls on Assistant AG Gummels former boss, Governor Jay Nixon, to issue an order prohibiting discrimination for Missouri state employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity as our peer states like Kentucky, Illinois, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan have already done.”

Bockelman concluded, “We appreciate that Chris Koster has appointed Joan Gummels to assure equal treatment for LGBT persons in the state of Missouri. We hope that Governor Nixon will do his part to assure that she has the legal basis to do her job effectively.”

For more information and press, contact PROMO at 314.862.4900 or PROMO@PROMOonline.org

Related News

June Missouri Events

Important Missouri Events to Know "Nothing For Us, Without Us" A KC Trans Community Town Hall Wednesday, June 7 from 4-7 p.m. at Bruce Watkins Center…

The End of Missouri’s 2023 Legislative Session

A Letter from Our Executive Director, Katy Erker-Lynch Dear Friend, We are in an unprecedented time in both PROMO’s and our nation’s history. Never before…

Elliot: The Importance of Celebrating Yourself

Elliot: The Importance of Celebrating Yourself A couple years after I started hormone replacement treatment and went to college, someone told me that, upon meeting…

PROMO Hosts St. Louis’ Largest LGBTQ Fundraiser on September 30

PROMO MISSOURI HOSTS ST. LOUIS’ LARGEST LGBTQ+ FUNDRAISER After four years, URBANAIRE returns on September 30 to celebrate queer joy and love after a ruthless…

PROMO Wants To Hear from Trans Missourians Impacted by Anti-Trans Laws

PROMO MISSOURI LAUNCHES STORY COLLECTION INITIATIVE TO HEAR FROM TRANSGENDER MISSOURIANS IMPACTED BY ANTI-TRANS LAWS The LGBTQ+ public policy organization is looking for transgender Missourians…

PROMO Missouri Statement on Denial of Preliminary Injunction for Gender-Affirming Healthcare

PROMO MISSOURI: “TODAY, YOU HAVE ROBBED US OF IMMENSE JOY AND OUR ABILITY TO THRIVE WITHIN THIS STATE AS OUR AUTHENTIC SELVES” The LGBTQ+ public…

The 2023 Legislative Session Recap

2023 Legislative Session Recap The good, the bad, and everything in-between Just like you, we have been taking some time to digest and release the…

  • Home
  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Board of Directors
    • Meet the PROMO Staff
    • Current Openings
    • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
    • Join PROMO’s Capitol Club
  • Events
  • News
    • Blog
  • Resources
  • Shop
  • Missourians Aging with Pride (MAP)

© Copyright 2023 PROMO. All Rights Reserved.

Proud member of
Equality Federation