Does Heaven Belong to Missouri’s Trans Kids?
-Mel Kulenski
But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 19:14 (NIV)
Let’s not mince words: All over the United States, the human rights of transgender and nonbinary people are under attack. The ACLU reports that 490 anti-trans bills have been introduced nationwide as of May 2023 – the majority of them targeting LGBTQ+ youth. This number surpasses the more than 300 bills that were introduced in 2022… and we’re not even halfway through the year.
Missouri’s trans youth are current targets.
Senator Mike Moon’s (R-Missouri) most recent bill would hinder trans youth from accessing gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, puberty blockers, transition surgery, and trans-affirming mental healthcare. That’s not all: It’d also prohibit youth from participating in sports that align with their gender. Although the bill still must be signed by Republican Governor Mike Parson to be passed, its arrival has sent shockwaves across the Missouri LGBTQ+ community – a community that in 2020 included 2,500 transgender youth.
The supposed reason for this bill? “Protecting children.”…
Mel Kulenski (she/her)