LGBTQ

The "Respect For Marriage Act" would ensure same-sex and interracial marriages will continue to be recognized regardless of future Supreme Court rulings. Sen. Roy Blunt and 11 other Republicans joined Democrats in a procedural vote, while Missouri's Sen. Josh Hawley and both Kansas senators voted no.

The Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s lease is under threat because the library refused to comply with a request from the St. Marys City Commission to remove all LGBTQ, sexual, racial or otherwise “socially divisive” content from its shelves.

The St. Mary’s City Commission is debating whether to renew the Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library's lease after the library refused to accept a clause asking it to remove socially, racially or sexually divisive material, including all LGBTQ content.

Despite opposition from students and the ACLU, the Gardner Edgerton school board approved a policy that bans transgender students from using their preferred restroom or playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. "You don't care about teen suicide," one student said.

Missouri's 4th District representative is part of a group of House Republicans who've introduced legislation banning funding for "sexually-oriented" programs and literature — including topics of sexual orientation and gender identity. If the bill were to become law, it could affect not only schools but also federally-funded institutions.

With activities like dodgeball, sand volleyball, pickleball, trivia and kickball, Stonewall Sports KC provides a place of queer inclusion for the Kansas City area.

Shawnee City Council has no control over who participates in school sports, but approved a document that serves as the city’s public stance on issues that could arise in state and federal governments. Shawnee is believed to be the first city in Johnson County to take an official stance on the issue.

After weeks of requiring people to submit online eligibility forms to receive the monkeypox vaccine, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is now letting clinics determine eligibility for the shots. LGBTQ advocates fear the online form, which asks questions about sexual behavior, discourages some people from seeking the vaccine.

The Democratic candidate for Missouri's District 34 Senate seat opposes the special session for tax cuts when lawmakers should be looking at "what our government should be doing for us."

A new Missouri law banning “explicit sexual material” on school property went into effect Aug. 24, prompting books to be removed from classrooms and libraries. The Missouri Association of School Librarians pointed to a potential exemption "if considered artistic or informational in nature.”

A new proposal scaled back a divisive plan introduced to the Gardner Edgerton School District in July. However, former and current students at Monday's board meeting said the proposed policy did not go far enough to protect transgender students.

Gardner Edgerton's proposed policy would require students and staff to use pronouns from their original birth certificate, with changing rooms and restrooms designated solely for those assigned to the corresponding gender at birth. Students in violation of the policy would be disciplined.