In Missouri, a new law banning gender-affirming care for young people and some adults will go into effect on August 28. In an effort to protect trans youth and ensure the city remains welcoming and inclusive, the Mayor of St. Louis – LP member Tishaura Jones – signed an executive order establishing new practices in key City departments to be more inclusive of diverse gender identities.

To our trans and gender non-conforming members and allies: As our national convening is being hosted in Missouri, we acknowledge the distress and emotional trauma of this news. We wholeheartedly understand if you wish to opt-out of the event this year or need to cancel your registration. Whether you plan to attend or not, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the LP team with questions, concerns, advice, or requests about how we can show up for each other. We are committed to doing everything possible to ensure everyone feels safe and can show up as their whole selves. 

We stand with transgender, non-binary, and gender non-conforming people in Missouri, across the country, and around the world. Making sure everyone can live a safe and healthy life means ensuring people have access to life saving healthcare. Local leaders can and must continue to advance reproductive freedom and protect bodily autonomy – and that includes gender-affirming care.