Strongly Oppose HB1038! Protect Trans Rights. STOP Government Overreach.

I am writing to strongly oppose House Bill 1038, which seeks to ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender Missourians. This bill is a dangerous overreach that threatens the rights, dignity, and well-being of transgender people across our state, particularly those who are already vulnerable due to systemic discrimination and barriers to healthcare. Gender-affirming care is not experimental—it is evidence-based, medically necessary, and supported by every major medical organization, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, and the Endocrine Society. Denying access to this care will cause severe harm, increasing rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among transgender individuals. The consequences of HB 1038 will be especially devastating for Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, who already face significant disparities in healthcare access. Transgender Missourians, particularly those in rural and underserved areas, will be forced to either forgo essential medical care or leave the state in search of treatment. This bill also strips families of their right to make private medical decisions and punishes healthcare providers for following established standards of care. By criminalizing and restricting gender-affirming care, HB 1038 will not protect anyone—it will only create unnecessary suffering. Additionally, the extreme legal penalties and professional repercussions outlined in this bill will drive medical providers out of Missouri, exacerbating an already critical healthcare shortage. I urge you to reject this harmful and discriminatory legislation. Transgender Missourians deserve the same rights and access to medical care as everyone else. Please stand for freedom, bodily autonomy, and the well-being of all Missourians by voting NO on HB 1038.