On April 27, a regulation from the Missouri Attorney General will go into place, creating an effective ban for trans healthcare, affecting both adults and minors. This rule, in short, would implement a three-year wait for care and prevent anyone with mental illness, which is common when living with untreated gender dysphoria, and autism from having access to care. These rules directly contradict established medicine that has been in place for decades and saved the lives of thousands across the country.

This regulation is built on poor and misleading data. Sources cited as “proof” of harm include outdated studies, debunked studies on “social contagion,” and surveys from parents who frequent anti-transgender websites. Government action restricting access to gender-affirming care is opposed by top medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Psychological Association, and over 1,000 child welfare groups.

This has created chaos for transgender Missourians, with providers in the state unsure if they can even continue treating current patients. Without this essential healthcare, people’s lives are at risk. Untreated gender dysphoria causes mental strain affecting many aspects of daily life and is associated with anxiety, depression, self-harm and other issues. Transgender people who have already gone through certain procedures may no longer be able to produce hormones. Suddenly halting hormone replacement therapy can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. A study also found that trans people who had been refused medical care had an increased risk of suicide.

Every June, companies come out to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community by sponsoring Pride events in Kansas City and St. Louis. We are asking these companies to not only celebrate with us for Pride month, but to stand up for us for the rest of the year. 

• Edward Jones
• Mastercard
• World Wide Technology
• Anheuser-Busch
• Wells Fargo
• Bayer
• Charles Schwab
• Boeing
• JPMorgan Chase
• Enterprise
• KPMG
• Deloitte
• T-Mobile
• Emerson
• Lowe's
• Commerce Bank
• St. Louis Cardinals
• Kansas City Royals
• McDonald's
• Spire
• Ameren
• Centene
• Caleres
• US Bank
• Purina

To these employers: This rule harms both your transgender employees and employees who are parents to trans children. This directly impacts your ability to recruit and retain talent in the state, as LGBTQ+ individuals, the parents of LGBTQ+ children, and their allies seek employment in other states. This stands in direct opposition to the culture that you promote internally and to the public. By not publicly opposing the effective ban of medicine for this marginalized group, you are saying to the LGBTQ+ community that you will show up when it benefits your business, but not when they need institutional support.

In 2015, businesses were vital in stopping an Indiana bill that would allow businesses to turn away LGBTQ+ people. In 2016, businesses again were instrumental in fighting North Carolina’s harmful “bathroom bill”. This past year, the Air Force announced it would offer relocation to those facing anti-trans laws. The LGBTQ+ community needs the support of the business community to draw a line in the sand and say: We will not continue to do business where there is discrimination.

Show us that you value our community. Tell Attorney General Bailey and Governor Parsons that this will not stand.

Spread the word! Share this petition with the hashtag #NOMODiscrimination and this link: https://chng.it/48GZHRPGzf

Follow this petition on Twitter and Instagram @SupportMOTrans

And support local organizations fighting this regulation and standing for trans Missourians:

ACLU MO https://www.aclu-mo.org/ 
Promo Missouri https://promoonline.org/ 
Metro Trans Umbrella Group https://www.stlmetrotrans.org/