Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew Bailey, introduced a new emergency rule earlier this week that imposes strict restrictions on the use of gender-affirming treatments for both adults and children. The rule will require those seeking hormone therapy or surgery for gender transition purposes to have experienced documented gender dysphoria for at least three years and received 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over 18 months. Furthermore, patients will be required to undergo screening for autism and “social media addiction.” Any psychiatric symptoms resulting from mental health issues must be treated and resolved before gender-affirming medical treatments can be provided by physicians.
The regulation has sparked panic among the transgender community in Missouri, with many individuals stating that it may be time to leave the state to access the essential care they need. The transgender community has faced an increasing number of legislative measures aimed at restricting or banning gender-affirming care. At least 13 states have enacted laws that restrict or ban gender-affirming care for minors, with nearly two dozen other states considering similar legislation.
Transgender rights advocates have vowed to challenge the new rule in court before it takes effect on April 27th. Cathy Renna, a spokesperson for the National LGBTQ Task Force, has stated that this new regulation is the most extensive restriction on gender-affirming care for both minors and adults.
Missouri’s Attorney General introduced the regulation following allegations that physicians at the Washington University Transgender Center in St. Louis were rushing to provide treatment without appropriate patient assessment. Although the claims of mistreatment have been disputed by former employees and patients, Bailey is currently investigating the clinic.
Stacy Cay, an autistic transgender woman in Kansas City, has already started stockpiling vials of injectable estrogen to anticipate the upcoming restrictions. She stated that the regulation would cut off her access to hormones, and her autism diagnosis could complicate her path to receiving future care.
Attorneys from Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union have stated that they plan to challenge the new rule in court. They believe the rule goes against established medical protocols and practices for transgender healthcare.
Republican lawmakers in Missouri have been advancing measures aimed at restricting gender-affirming care for minors, but have no plans to expand their legislation to include adults. They believe that adults have the opportunity to make decisions about their own health care. However, the transgender community argues that these new regulations will make it incredibly difficult for individuals to receive essential care and live a fulfilling life.