ACLU Missouri files lawsuit to block anti-transgender bill

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The ACLU of Missouri announced in a Tuesday press release that it - along with Lambda Legal and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP -- has filed a lawsuit to try to block a law that attempts to prevent transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming healthcare.

The lawsuit aims to block Senate Bill 49, which bans access to gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormones to children, who are younger than 18 years old. The bill also prohibits Missouri’s Medicaid program, MO HealthNet, from providing payment for gender transition surgery and puberty blockers.

Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill -- along with a bill prohibiting transgender people from participating in girls and women’s sports – on June 7. The press release from the ACLU makes no reference to the “Save Women’s Sports Act.”

According to the press release, the lawsuit, Noe v. Parson, was filed on behalf of the families of three transgender people, Southampton Community Healthcare and two of its medical providers, and two organizations representing hundreds of families and health professionals across the state. 

The ACLU was recently involved in another lawsuit around a similar issue. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey in April attempted to put an “emergency rule” in place that put restrictions on gender transitions. The rule was expected to start in May, but was put on hold by a judge. Bailey eventually withdrew the rule on May 16.

This story is developing.