Missouri GOP says LGBTQ issues will take a back seat to child care, education policy in 2024
Missouris's top Republican leaders say passing more laws directed at LGBTQ people is not a priority for this legislative session.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri’s five-month annual legislative session begins Wednesday, and top Republican leaders say passing more laws directed at LBGTQ people is not a priority.
Republicans spent much of last session crafting two new transgender-related laws, despite considerable pushback from Democrats and LGBTQ advocates.
One measure outlawed gender-affirming surgeries for minors and instituted a four-year ban on the use of hormones and puberty blockers as a part of gender-affirming health care for minors who were not already receiving those medications. Another law limits athletes to school sports teams based on their sex as assigned at birth, an act that also expires in August 2027.
Bills filed this session would repeal the expiration dates for both transgender-related laws, make public drag shows a crime, require teachers to notify parents if students express confusion about their gender, and put limits on what books are available to minors in public and school libraries.
But Republican Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden said he does not expect work on transgender-related issues this year. And House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Patterson said proposals dealing with drag shows, LGBTQ discussions in schools and library books will take a back seat to top priorities that include expanding access to child care and charter and non-public schools.
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