MU will ‘comply with state and federal laws’ after Parson signs anti-transgender bills

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed Senate Bills 39 and 49 on Wednesday.

The bills affect health care for transgender people and transgender athletes from competing in girls and women's sports, which includes public and private universities and colleges. The bill goes into affect Aug. 28

University of Missouri's spokesperson Christian Basi said, "The University of Missouri will always comply with state and federal laws."

Currently the Missouri State High School’s Athletic Associations rule book says that a request is required before approval is granted. MSHSAA's rulebook states:

"No Medical/Hormone Treatment: Any transgender student-athlete who is not taking medical/hormone treatment related to gender transition may commence and continue interscholastic participation in sex-separated sports in accordance with his or her assigned birth gender.

• A trans male (female to male) student-athlete who is not taking medical/hormone treatment related to gender transition may participate in co-ed sports and may apply to participate in boys sports. Once the student participates in a boys’ sport, he shall participate consistently with that gender for the remainder of his interscholastic eligibility.
• A trans female (male to female) student-athlete who is not taking medical/hormone treatments related to gender transition may not compete on a girls’ team, but may participate in co-ed and boys sports.

Receiving Medical/Hormone Treatment:

• A trans male (female to male) student-athlete who has commenced medical/hormone treatment with prescribed drugs for diagnosed gender dysphoria and/or transsexualism, may compete on a boys’ team, but is no longer eligible to compete on a girls’ team without changing that team status to a co-ed team.
• A trans female (male to female) student-athlete being treated with hormone suppression medication for diagnosed gender dysphoria and/or transsexualism may continue to compete on a boys’ team but may not compete on a girls’ team, without changing it to a co-ed team, until one calendar year of documented medical/hormone treatment and/or suppression is completed. To maintain eligibility, a trans female student shall thereafter provide continuing medical documentation that the appropriate hormone levels are being maintained."

Senate Bill 49, "Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act," will limit healthcare treatment for anybody under the age of 18, and Medicaid patients.

The bill no longer allows Medicaid money to go towards transition therapy and surgeries.

Doctors are also banned from treating anybody under the age of 18 with transitioning.

This extends to transitional medications such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender transition surgeries. However, anybody who had been previously prescribed them prior to August 28th will be allowed to continue.

This story is developing.