Fight for Trans Missourians. Vote NO on HB1081

I am writing to strongly oppose House Bill 1081, a bill that strips transgender Missourians—especially transgender youth—of their right to essential, evidence-based medical care. This legislation is not grounded in science or compassion; it is rooted in fear and misinformation. It will harm families, criminalize doctors, and worsen already alarming health disparities for transgender individuals across our state. Let’s be clear: gender-affirming care is not experimental. It is supported by every major medical organization in the country, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Endocrine Society. Studies have shown that access to gender-affirming care reduces depression, anxiety, and suicide risk among transgender people. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that transgender youth who receive puberty blockers experience 73% lower odds of suicidal ideation than those who do not. This bill will force young people into distress and despair—outcomes we cannot afford to ignore. HB 1081 claims to protect minors, but the reality is the opposite. The Trevor Project reports that more than 50% of transgender youth have seriously considered suicide, and nearly one in five have attempted it. Blocking access to healthcare will not stop young people from being transgender; it will only take away their ability to live healthy, fulfilling lives. Parents, in consultation with medical professionals—not politicians—should be the ones making medical decisions for their children. Moreover, this bill disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and other transgender people of color, who already face greater barriers to healthcare. According to the U.S. Transgender Survey, 22% of transgender people of color have been refused medical care simply for being transgender. Legislation like this will only push lifesaving care further out of reach for those who need it most. HB 1081 also sends a dangerous message to medical professionals: if you provide standard, best-practice care to your patients, you could lose your license and be financially ruined. This will drive doctors and healthcare providers out of Missouri, worsening the already critical shortage of medical professionals in our state. We should be strengthening our healthcare system, not dismantling it in the name of discrimination. At its core, this bill is about fear, not facts. Transgender Missourians—adults and youth alike—deserve the same dignity, rights, and access to care as anyone else. I urge you to reject HB 1081 and stand on the right side of history, science, and humanity. The well-being and lives of transgender people are at stake.