Yesterday, the same day the US House passed the Equality Act in a show of support advancing rights for all LGBTQ Americans, the Missouri Legislature announced that they are going to hold a HEARING to ban transgender kids from playing sports.
We need your support in voicing opposition to HJR 53 (Basye R-47), which will have a hearing on Wednesday evening in the House Emerging Issues Committee. As a joint resolution, HJR 53 would go on the ballot for Missouri voters to decide whether to amend the state constitution to ban trans girls from participating in sports according to their gender on their birth certificate.
Transgender students participate in sports for the same reasons as everyone else — to learn good sportsmanship, get and stay healthy, be part of a team, and to build a sense of belonging with their peers. Our laws should protect transgender youth, not discriminate against them.
This legislation is going to take each of us showing up and demonstrating broad community support. Similar bills are rapidly making their way through other state legislatures, seen in Montana and Tennessee.
Even through the pandemic, legislators see PROMO in the Capitol, demonstrating the vigilance, persistence, and expertise required to make certain Missouri laws protect and enhance the lives of all LGBTQ Missourians. This coming week is critical! Take action by testifying with us to support transgender kids!
We are also diligently preparing for HB 33 (Pollock R-123) to have a hearing as early as this coming Wednesday morning.
HB 33 (Pollock R-123) would criminalize life-saving, medically necessary health care for transgender youth. This bill poses criminal penalties against medical providers and parents, including a requirement that they should be reported to Child Services for providing best practice health care to transgender youth. Health care professionals and parents should not be penalized for making decisions together that help affirm, celebrate, and save the lives of some of our most vulnerable young people.
We need you to join us – children’s lives are at risk. This session, Missouri House lawmakers are finding opportunities to hear from constituents digitally and in-person. This Wednesday, we need your support. We can’t stop the 10 anti-trans bills alone. We need your help now.
In Equality,
Stephen Eisele, Executive Director
