Rating: Transsupportive, GLAAD, August 29, 2023 (PDF archive) (HTML archive) (Take Action)
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Content Summary
GLAAD Responds to Recent Court Rulings on Transgender Health Care in Texas, Missouri
Transgender Americans and their loved ones are being forced to navigate a more complicated array of attacks than ever on their rights. From legislative movement and court rulings to administrative actions and executive orders, anti-LGBTQ animus seems to be seeping into our community from all corners of our everyday lives and creating a confusing patchwork of varying laws and policies all over the country.
State equality groups and advocates were quick to denounce the ruling and emphasize the harmful impact it would have on MIssourians and their families. Aro Royston (he/him), Board Secretary for PROMO Missouri, the state’s leading LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization, said in part: “We are enraged — not only has our government and elected officials failed us, but now our justice system has failed to do its job in protecting the most vulnerable of our population. The courts told the transgender community, parents of gender-expansive youth, and the entire LGBTQ+ community that we do not exist, that we do not have the right to make our own medical decisions or the right to bodily autonomy. There is no categorical ban like this in the world making the actions of the Missouri State Government the most egregious in history.”
NEWS RELEASE: PROMO Launches Story Collection Initiative to Hear from Trans Missourians Impacted by Anti-Trans Laws // As these laws take effect, we need to hear the harm it is causing across the state to help us find paths to fight back.https://t.co/ly0byFlKo6
— PROMO Missouri (@PROMOMissouri) August 28, 2023
In response, PROMO has now launched a new story collection initiative on its website in order to highlight transgender Missourians impacted by anti-transgender laws, including the ban on health care and a ban on transgender student participation in sports. Missouri’s transgender sports ban is one of the most severe in the country affecting both transgender boys and girls and public, private, and charter schools, as well as schools who participate in competitions against another team who has a transgender athlete competing. Any school who violates the law risks losing 100% of their state public funding.
If you live in Missouri or if you know LGBTQ people affected by the anti-LGBTQ laws in the state, participate in PROMO’s story collection campaign by visiting their website at https://promoonline.org/.
The news out of Texas is the latest among a growing chorus of courts that have found similar anti-transgender health care bans unconstitutional as well. But the victory was short-lived, as the Texas attorney general quickly appealed the decision. The ban is expected still to go into effect, preventing transgender Texans from receiving care beginning September 1 and making Texas the largest state in the nation to enforce such a ban as the legal challenge continues in court.
Ricardo Martinez (he/him), CEO of Equality Texas, said in response: “When we talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it’s no mistake that life comes first. A full and vibrant life starts with a healthy mind and body. Yet, despite having some of the world’s greatest doctors, most advanced medicine, health care will not be available to trans kids in Texas starting Sept. 1. Make no mistake, the care that trans kids receive is no different than care that is widely available to kids who aren’t trans, SB14 only prohibits doctors from serving young trans patients. That’s the definition of discrimination.
“We’re committed to seeing that all young people, including trans youth, have access to health care,” he continued. “To the families that are struggling, trying to figure out your next move, we see you, and we will do everything in our power to support you. That’s why we partnered with the Campaign for Southern Equality and TENT on the Southern Trans Youth Emergency Project. It’s an imperfect solution, and hopefully it’s a temporary one. Our legal partners are continuing to fight, and we are not backing down.”
GLAAD’s CEO and President, Sarah Kate Ellis (she/her), also spoke out in response to the recent rulings urging lawmakers not to move forward these dangerous bans. “The confusing patchwork of different laws regarding transgender Americans’ ability to access basic health care is unfair and unsustainable,” she said. “Access to lifesaving health care is a fundamental right that should not be denied to anyone in America, and especially not to transgender people who already face so much discrimination and violence. The government should stay out of the business of private health care decisions between patients, their families, and their medical providers. Transgender people, like all of us, deserve to find joy and happiness as their authentic selves. We urge lawmakers and politicians to stop playing reckless games with transgender lives.”
To learn more and see GLAAD’s full press statement on the news, visit https://glaad.org/glaad-responds-to-court-rulings-on-transgender-health-care-in-texas-and-missouri/.
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