Don’t Erase Trans Missourians from Reproductive Healthcare!

I’m writing to urge you to oppose SB 1459 (Koenig). This bill seeks to define "reproductive health care" in a way that excludes gender transition procedures and treatments like cross-sex hormones and puberty blockers. This is problematic for a number of reasons. Firstly, the spectrum of reproductive and sexual healthcare is already well understood and practiced. There's no need to introduce confusion by trying to redefine it in this manner. Medical professionals clearly differentiate between reproductive healthcare and gender-affirming care, and this bill's attempt to conflate the two only adds unnecessary complexity. Secondly, this bill oversteps by imposing the Missouri Legislature’s definition of reproductive healthcare on medical practice, disregarding widely accepted clinical standards and evidence-based medicine. It encroaches on parental rights by dictating what constitutes appropriate healthcare for their children without demonstrating expertise in this field. Furthermore, this bill is redundant regarding gender-affirming care for minors, as such treatments are already prohibited in our state. It raises very real concerns that it may be a poorly veiled attempt to limit access to these crucial services for adults as well. As an advocate for families, children, and the LGBTQ+ community, I urge you to reject SB 1459. It's offensive, harmful, and unnecessary, and it undermines both medical expertise and parental rights. Let’s prioritize evidence-based healthcare and respect for individual medical choices by voting against this bill.