Oppose Missouri's Anti-LGBTQ Bathroom Bills!

I stand in opposition to SB 212 (Fitzwater), HB 1197 (Baker), SB 632 (Schroer), SB 597 (Gregory), HB 542 (Sparks), and SJR 57 (Fitzwater). These bills, under the guise of protecting privacy and safety, instead inflict deep harm on our LGBTQ community—especially transgender and gender-nonconforming students—and serve to institutionalize discrimination. These proposals force an artificial, and frankly dangerous, division between “biological sex” and a person’s true identity. For example, SB 212’s mandate to limit access to public school restrooms and locker rooms to “male” or “female” students effectively isolates transgender youth. Imagine a student, already struggling with acceptance, being told that her authentic self does not belong in the space where she needs to feel safe. I have witnessed firsthand the anxiety and distress such policies create in schools that should nurture every child. Similarly, HB 1197 and SB 597 not only undermine the dignity of transgender students by enforcing segregated facilities but also expose private and public institutions to a climate of fear and litigation. Instead of protecting safety, these measures fuel stigma and ostracization. They suggest that transgender individuals are inherently disruptive or unsafe—a claim that is wholly unsupported by research. Inclusive policies have consistently demonstrated that respecting every student’s identity fosters a safer and more supportive educational environment. SB 632 and HB 542 further extend this discrimination into the realm of business and public accommodations, threatening legal actions that could marginalize even more LGBTQ individuals. This barrage of bills sends a troubling message: that the rights and dignity of transgender and gender-nonconforming people are negotiable. SJR 57, meanwhile, seeks to constitutionally enshrine separation and exclusion in spaces that should belong to everyone, be it a domestic violence shelter, prison, or athletic facility. Our schools, businesses, and public institutions should be sanctuaries of inclusion, not battlegrounds for fear and exclusion. I urge you to reject these bills, embrace policies that recognize and protect the dignity of all individuals, and work toward an environment where every person—regardless of gender identity—can thrive safely and authentically.