TL;DR
- Missouri Republicans introduced 58 anti-LGBTQ+ bills this year.
- Only one anti-trans measure became law.
- Advocates credit grassroots organizing for the legislative win.
- Missouri has a history of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation.
- The fight for LGBTQ+ rights continues in Missouri.
In a surprising twist, Missouri’s legislative session saw a flood of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with a jaw-dropping 58 proposals hitting the floor. However, only one anti-trans measure managed to slip through the cracks and become law. Talk about a plot twist! This year, Missouri has been a battleground for LGBTQ+ rights, with lawmakers trying to push through a slew of discriminatory bills targeting everything from transgender youth to drag performers.
According to PROMO, Missouri’s leading LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, this year marked a significant slowdown in the state’s relentless assault on LGBTQ+ rights. “This moment — this win — belongs to all LGBTQ+ Missourians and every single person who loves someone who is LGBTQ+,” said Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director of PROMO. It seems that despite the overwhelming number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, the community’s resilience and advocacy efforts have made a dent in the legislative agenda.
Among the 58 bills, many aimed to limit gender-affirming healthcare, bathroom access, and even the visibility of LGBTQ+ discussions in schools. But thanks to months of lobbying, public testimony, and grassroots organizing, only one measure made it to the governor’s desk: a permanent extension of existing restrictions on gender-affirming healthcare for incarcerated individuals. Yes, you heard that right—while the majority of the bills flopped, this one found its way through!
Missouri has a notorious reputation for being a hotbed of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, consistently ranking among the states with the highest number of discriminatory bills. Since 2015, lawmakers have introduced a staggering 371 anti-LGBTQ+ bills, with only a handful making it into law. This year, however, advocates are celebrating a small victory, as they successfully blocked every anti-LGBTQ+ bill introduced during the legislative session, joining the ranks of states like Georgia and Kentucky in this rare achievement.
But don’t pop the champagne just yet! Advocates warn that the fight is far from over. With the looming threat of proposed Amendment 3, which aims to repeal reproductive rights and ban gender transition procedures for minors, the LGBTQ+ community in Missouri is gearing up for another battle. “We will fight with everything we have to protect the rights of LGBTQ+ Missourians and their families,” Erker-Lynch vowed.
As the ACLU tracks a staggering 529 anti-LGBTQ+ bills nationwide this year, Missouri’s struggle reflects a broader national trend of hostility towards LGBTQ+ rights, especially for transgender individuals. But with dedicated advocates and an engaged community, there’s hope that the tide can turn. Missouri may be a conservative stronghold, but the fight for equality is alive and well!