Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey on Thursday announced “emergency regulations” that will severely restrict access to transgender health care, making the state one of the most hostile in the country for both minors and adults.
A set of rules, scheduled implemented April 27 and remain in place until February 6introduced a three-year waiting period for trans people wishing to receive gender-affirming treatment, during which time patients must have a “medically documented, long-lasting, persistent and intense pattern of gender dysphoria.”
Patients must also undergo at least 15 sessions with a psychological or psychiatric professional over 18 months to determine if they have a mental health condition, and be screened for autism. Gender-affirming treatment is not possible until “The patient’s existing mental health comorbidities have been treated and resolved.”
Bailey has explained the restrictions, which carry an “emergency” label to allow for swift implementation, as needed to protect children — but as written, the rules don’t just apply to minors.
“The attorney general’s order was not designed to protect children. It was not designed with medical guidelines or best practices,” Democratic state Rep. Eric Woods tweeted. “This is designed to be cruel. It will bring nothing but harm to those who are truly affected. All during a shameful day in Missouri.
Bailey’s order says hormone treatments and gender-affirming surgeries are “experimental.” However, every major medical association in the US says that gender-affirming treatment is acceptable and necessary for transgender youth and adults.
The emergency regulation was introduced after the Missouri House separately passed a ban on gender-affirming treatment for trans youth; The legislation now moves to the state Senate for consideration.
Missouri is also currently considering a bill to ban transgender athletes from playing in teams that align with gender identity, starting in sixth grade and continuing to the college level.
The state’s gambit to limit access to trans health care is part of a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills that have swept the GOP-controlled legislature since 2021. Some aim to restrict children from receiving gender-affirming treatment or using gender-appropriate bathrooms. identity, while others are wrapped in the same moral panic about drag performers.
LGBTQ+ advocates fear that transphobic laws and restrictions could affect the mental health of those in the community. Transgender youth are at higher risk for suicidal ideation due to stigma and discrimination, according to the non-profit Trevor Project.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri and the LGBTQ+ rights group Lambda Legal have vowed to sue Missouri over the act.
“This rule is a shocking attempt to exploit Missouri’s consumer protection laws in order to play politics with life-saving medical care. Transgender people in Missouri deserve the support and care they need to be given the same opportunities to get ahead as their peers,” he said. group mentioned in a joint statement.
“We will defend the rights of transgender people through the necessary legal action, as we have done in other countries that are involved in this anti-science and discriminatory fear.”
If you or someone you know needs help, dial 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 for National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. You can also get support via text by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat. In addition, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside the US, please visit International Association for Suicide Prevention.