Missouri lawmakers pass bill to ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids

Missouri lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday to ban gender-affirming health care for transgender minors and another bill that would prevent transgender girls and women from competing on girls' and women's sports teams. The bills were sent to Republican Governor Mike Parson to sign.

Transgender minors in Missouri no longer would have access to puberty blockers, hormones or gender-affirming surgery under one bill passed by the GOP-led House on Wednesday, although minors who already receive puberty-blockers and hormone treatments would be exempt from the new restrictions. The ban also affects some adults — Medicaid health care won't cover any gender-affirming care in the state, and surgery will no longer be available to adult prisoners and inmates.

Another bill, to ban transgender girls and women from participating in female sports teams, would apply from kindergarten through college, both at public and private schools. Schools that allow transgender girls and women to play on such teams would lose state funding.