January 12-16
TL/DR: The 2-Minute Read
Actions to Take Right Now
- Upcoming Hearing (Tues., Jan. 20 at 4:30 p.m.): Sign up to testify in-person OR submit written testimony to defend the expiration dates (sunsets) on the anti-trans laws banning access to healthcare for trans young people and the ability for trans kids to play sports.
- Upcoming Rally (Wed., Jan. 21 at 12 p.m.): Register for the “Stand Up, Fight Back” Rally where PROMO will join other progressive movement partners to fill the halls in the Capitol with our voices against anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ policy. Select “PROMO” for the organization you’re with to ensure you get all logistic details.
Important Updates to Know
- The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) heard oral arguments on two cases focused on determining if banning trans girls from girls’ sports constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX or violates the 14th Amendment Equality Protection clause.
- Shortly after, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an infuriating decision to uphold Missouri’s law banning access to healthcare for trans young people and Medicaid coverage for adults.
- Our champion lawmaker, Sen. Tracy McCreery, filed SB 1541 which is the Youth Mental Health Preservation Act. It’s a bill that bans conversion “therapy.” Another champion lawmaker and LGBTQ+ elected Rep. Jeremy Dean filed the companion bill, HB 1968, in the House this week as well.
A Deeper Dive of This Week
As we step into this new legislative session, I want to remind you that no wins or losses — whether in the legislature, the courts, or in elections — determine who we are or whether we exist.
We exist. And goodness, are we powerful.
This past week added insult to injury, from the U.S. Supreme Court to our own state’s highest court. We know it’s exhausting. We know how deeply these decisions can hurt. And yet, our community continues to show up, connect, and fight like hell. That’s what power looks like. That’s what we look like. Because we’ve got us.
Conversion “Therapy” Ban
This week began with our champion lawmaker, Sen. Tracy McCreery, filing SB 1541 or the Youth Mental Health Preservation Act. It’s a bill that bans conversion “therapy” (the dangerous, discredited practice that attempts to change a young person’s sexuality or gender) by protecting youth under the age of 18 from being subjected to this practice by licensed mental health professionals. Sen. McCreery first introduced this bill to Missouri’s legislature in 2018 as a representative and has filed it every year since. LGBTQ+ elected and champion Rep. Jeremy Dean has filed this legislation, HB 1968, in the House as well.
Wondering how this practice impacts LGBTQ+ Missourians? Sixteen percent of Missouri’s youth have been subjected to or report being threatened with conversion “therapy.” In a year where banning conversion “therapy” has made significant noise since being argued at the Supreme Court last year in October (Chiles v. Salazar), it’s critical we push our state to join 23 others in ridding our state of this harm.
U.S. Supreme Court & Trans Athletes
Tuesday turned our week rough. SCOTUS heard oral arguments on two cases, West Virginia v B.P.J. and Little v Hecox, focused on determining if banning trans girls from girls’ sports constitutes sex discrimination under Title IX or violates the 14th Amendment Equal Protection clause. The arguments were a grueling two-and-a-half hours long.
Laws like this — including Missouri’s ban — and the discussions that surround them shape the contours of all our rights. They shape how people make meaning about who we should respect as part of our communities, about what our public schools should be like and who they should serve, and what role the government should play in our lives.
It’s why it is imperative we show up for Tuesday’s hearing to speak out against making our current anti-trans bans permanent. We must show out for all the young people in Missouri who deserve to be respected by our government.
Missouri Supreme Court
In that same day, shortly after SCOTUS heard oral arguments, our own Missouri Supreme Court issued a wicked decision to uphold Missouri’s law banning access to healthcare for trans young people AND medicaid coverage for adults. The Court let lies and disinformation dictate what our law should be rather than best healthcare practices recommended by every major medical association in this county. With this decision, our most urgent and critical next steps are to protect the sunset that will expire part of this law in 2027 and to stop Amendment 3 from passing in 2026.
Stand Up, Fight Back Rally
I know many of you are frustrated, sad, and honestly feeling a ton of emotions right now. I want you to know that PROMO is not done fighting to remove the anti-trans laws in our state. We will continue to fight to protect the dignity and rights of all LGBTQ+ Missourians. That’s why I invite you to join me in show up on Wednesday, January 21 at 12 p.m., where we are showing up with our movement partners to STAND UP AND FIGHT BACK. We will show our elected officials the power of our community.
