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Conservatives insist otherwise, but transgender Missourians worry they'll lose gender-affirming careEven after the demise of emergency rules restricting gender-affirming care for adults, transgender Missourians don’t believe the push to limit trans rights is over.
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Under a recent anti-LGBTQ law passed by the Kansas Legislature, transgender residents will be prohibited from changing the sex on their driver’s licenses and other official documents. When the law takes effect July 1, lawyers and advocates say it could lead to harassment and discrimination.
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Republican lawmakers have become laser focused on legislation affecting transgender Missourians. That reality is pushing some to flee with their families or send transgender teenagers to out-of-state universities. "There's no point in staying," one mother said. "I consider it dangerous here."
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Both parties claimed successes in a state budget that increased spending on roads and education. But a great deal of time was spent on Republican efforts to restrict the rights of transgender residents, while other priorities never made it to a vote.
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The bills now go to Gov. Mike Parson, who is expected to sign them. While they're less restrictive than other Republican-leaning states, they still provoked harsh criticism from Democrats who said they’re political ploys at the expense of a vulnerable part of Missouri’s LGBTQ community.
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Three openly transgender educators in Kirkwood, Missouri, say the school district "sexualized my identity" and forced them to leave their jobs. In the backdrop are proposed Missouri policies that seek to limit how trans children and adults can exist openly in the state, including in schools.
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While the Missouri House and Senate have both passed their own versions of bills restricting access for gender-affirming health care and sports participation for transgender youth, no bill has passed both chambers. With two weeks remaining in session, Parson said he’s prepared to call lawmakers back to pass the bills.
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Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly has seen some of her vetoes of culture wars legislation and others overridden by conservative Republicans who control the Kansas Legislature.
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The legislation bars individuals who are born without the ability to produce eggs for reproduction from using women’s restrooms, locker rooms and other gender-specific areas — and classifies intersex people as disabled. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the bill but the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature narrowly voted to override and put it into law.
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Under the legislation, schools would not be allowed to let students play on sports teams that don’t match the gender listed on their birth certificate or another government record. The bill would apply to public and charter schools from grade six through 12.
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The Republican-led House gave first-round approval to legislation barring transgender athletes from participating on sport teams that align with their gender identity. Both bills need another vote before moving to the Senate.
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Kansas lawmakers have considered sending more state tax dollars to private schools, passed restrictions on transgender athletes and debated pay raises for teachers — and the session isn't done yet.