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Transgender minors and some adults in Missouri will soon be denied access to puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed Wednesday by the state’s Republican governor. Gender confirmation therapies for teens and children. Most adults will still have access to transgender health care by law, but Medicaid will not cover it. Gender confirmation surgeries for inmates and prisoners will be banned. The law is set to expire in 2027 as part of a Republican compromise with Senate Democrats. On Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson also signed legislation banning girls and transgender women from playing on women’s sports teams from kindergarten to college. Both public and private schools face losing government funding for violating the law. Parson has called on the Republican-led legislature to pass the bills in the final weeks of its session, and has threatened to keep them running past the May 12 end date if they don’t. Republican leaders in the House and Senate vowed months ago to pass the bills, but the two chambers disagreed over how restrictive the ban should be, and the House eventually adopted the Senate’s watered-down version of the health care bill, which includes an exception allowing transgender minors to continue to receive health care confirm their gender if they have already begun treatment. Missouri’s ban comes amid a national campaign by governors to impose restrictions on transgender and non-binary people, which along with abortion have become a major topic of state legislative sessions this year. Legal challenge to laws is possible. When the legislature first passed the bills, the ACLU of Missouri said it “will continue to explore all options to fight this ban and expand trans rights in Missouri.” Planned Parenthood clinics in the state have been ramping up available appointments and complicating residents. Establishing clinics to start patients in treatment before the law goes into effect. Yamelsey Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis and Southwest Missouri area, said in a statement. “Any patient who wants to continue gender confirmation care in a state that welcomes people of all identities: Our Fairview Heights, Illinois, health center is open to you and we are here to help you make plans to get care.” Andrew Bailey, a Republican now campaigning for re-election, launched an investigation in February at Washington University’s Transgender Center in St. Louis. A former employee complained that doctors were prescribing hormones too quickly and without comprehensive mental health services. A Washington University internal review found no misconduct. Bailey has since expanded its investigation to include any clinic offering child sex confirmation care to children in Missouri, and has demanded records from Planned Parenthood in St. Louis where doctors provide such care. A new move to place restrictions on adults as well as children under Missouri’s Consumer Protection Act. A judge has temporarily banned the hudud from being implemented as it considers a legal challenge.

Transgender minors and some adults in Missouri will soon be denied access to puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed into law by the state’s Republican governor on Wednesday.

Starting August 28, Missouri health care providers will no longer be able to prescribe gender confirmation treatments to teens and children. Most adults will still have access to transgender health care by law, but Medicaid will not cover it.

Gender confirmation surgeries for inmates and prisoners will be banned.

The law is set to expire in 2027 as part of a Republican compromise with Senate Democrats.

On Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson also signed legislation banning girls and transgender women from playing on women’s sports teams from kindergarten to college. Both public and private schools face losing government funding for violating the law.

Parson has called on the Republican-led legislature to pass bills in the final weeks of its session, and has threatened to keep them running past the May 12 end date if they don’t.

Republican leaders in the House and Senate pledged months ago to pass the bills, but both chambers disagreed on how restrictive the ban should be.

Ultimately, the House adopted the Senate’s watered-down version of the health care bill, which includes an exception allowing transgender minors to continue receiving gender-affirming health care if they have already begun treatment.

Missouri’s ban comes amid a national campaign by conservatives to impose restrictions on transgender and non-binary people, which along with abortion have become a major topic of state legislative sessions this year.

Legal challenge to laws is possible. When the legislature first passed the bills, the Missouri ACLU said it “will continue to explore all options to fight this ban and expand the rights of Missouri converts.”

Planned Parenthood clinics in the state are ramping up available appointments and holding pop-up clinics to start patients on treatment before the law takes effect.

“We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that all patients are supported, seen, and cared for,” Yamelsey Rodriguez, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis and Southwest Missouri area, said in a statement. “Any patient who wants to continue their gender confirmation care in a state that welcomes people of all identities: Our Fairview Heights, Illinois, health center is open to you and we are here to help you make plans to get care.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican now campaigning for re-election, launched an investigation in February into the St. Louis University Transgender Center in Washington. A former employee complained that doctors were prescribing hormones too quickly and without comprehensive mental health services. A University of Washington internal review found no malpractice.

Bailey has since expanded his investigation to any clinic that offers infant gender confirmation care in Missouri, and has demanded records from Planned Parenthood in St. Louis where doctors provide such care.

In April, Bailey took the new step of imposing restrictions on adults as well as children under Missouri’s consumer protection law. A judge has temporarily banned the hudud from being implemented as it considers a legal challenge.

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