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Missouri House sends bill banning transgender health care for minors to governor
By: Annelise Hanshaw - May 10, 2023
The Missouri House sent legislation to the governor’s desk Wednesday morning barring transgender youth from beginning gender-affirming care. The bill passed 108-50. Only three Republicans joined every Democrat in opposition: House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, a doctor, Rep. Chris Sander, who is gay, and Rep. Gary Bonacker. Democratic Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis asked […]
Judge blocks Missouri AG’s rule limiting transgender health care
By: Annelise Hanshaw - May 1, 2023
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is still blocked from enforcing an emergency rule limiting gender-affirming care after a St. Louis County judge granted a 14-day temporary restraining order Monday. The lawsuit, filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Lambda Legal, alleges that Bailey abused the state’s consumer protection law to create the […]
Missouri governor threatens to call special session to ban gender-affirming care
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 27, 2023
With only two weeks left before lawmakers adjourn for the year, Gov. Mike Parson is threatening to keep Missouri’s general assembly in Jefferson City if they don’t pass bills banning gender-affirming care for minors and placing restrictions on transgender athletes. Parson told KCMO Talk Radio’s Pete Mundo on Tuesday, and reiterated to reporters and Thursday, […]
Judge halts Missouri AG’s rule limiting transgender health care until May 1
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 26, 2023
An emergency order that would set barriers to accessing gender-affirming care in Missouri is delayed until at least May 1. St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Ellen Ribaudo ruled Wednesday that she needed to hear from both the Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey and plaintiffs prior to deciding if she would place a temporary restraining […]
Judge rejects push by Missouri AG to move transgender care lawsuit to federal court
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 26, 2023
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s last-minute push to move a lawsuit challenging restrictions on transgender care to federal court was denied Wednesday, with a federal judge ruling the matter belonged back in state court. “You just can’t file something in federal court just because you want to be in federal court,” District Judge Henry Edward […]
Lawsuit seeks to block Missouri attorney general restrictions on transgender health care
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 24, 2023
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s emergency rule blocking access to certain medical procedures for transgender children and adults faces a lawsuit seeking to block implementation days before it is scheduled to go into effect. The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and Lambda Legal filed the lawsuit Monday in St. Louis County calling Bailey’s rule […]
Former employee of St. Louis transgender clinic reaffirms allegations of misconduct
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 24, 2023
The former case manager whose allegations against a St. Louis transgender clinic spurred an inquiry by the attorney general says she stands behind her claims despite an internal investigation by her former employer concluding they are unsubstantiated. Last week, Washington University released the findings of its investigation into allegations of misconduct made by Jamie Reed, […]
Transgender Missourians consider leaving state after AG includes adults in emergency rule
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 24, 2023
Sera Hart-Smith and her partner Kyle Kiera Hart are packing their belongings to leave Missouri before Hart-Smith runs out of her supply of estrogen. Hart-Smith has been taking estrogen since she was 19, and the couple is afraid state leaders may take that access away and push her back into the depression that she felt […]
Washington University inquiry found allegations against Transgender Center ‘unsubstantiated’
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 21, 2023
Allegations that physicians at the Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital failed to inform patients of potential side effects of treatment and overlooked their mental health needs are “unsubstantiated,” according to an internal investigation conducted by Washington University and released Friday. Washington University oversees the Transgender Center and has been under fire since Jamie […]
Missouri House votes to limit transgender athletes participation in school sports
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 18, 2023
The Missouri House passed its version of a bill on Monday that would ban transgender athletes from competing according to their gender identity on a 104-46 vote. GOP Reps. Chris Sander of Lone Jack, and Rep. Tony Lovasco of O-Fallon were the only Republicans who voted against the bill. Democratic Rep. Alan Gray of Florissant […]
Ban on transgender care passes Missouri House, setting up possible clash with Senate
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 13, 2023
Differences between the House and Senate on how strict a ban on certain transgender health care could spell trouble for the proposal’s chances as the Missouri legislative session nears completion. Republican leaders in both chambers told reporters on Thursday that they wanted their versions passed and sent to the governor. The Senate passed a version […]
Emergency rule seeks to limit access to certain procedures for transgender Missourians
By: Annelise Hanshaw - April 13, 2023
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey released details of an emergency rule Thursday seeking to make it harder for transgender children and adults to access certain medical procedures, calling them “experimental” and arguing they need “substantial guardrails.” The rule, once filed with the Secretary of State, would be in effect from April 27 to Feb. 6, […]