Missouri Senate approves restrictions on gender transitions for minors, male participation in girls sports

Two Missouri Senate bills related to youth transgender issues were approved by lawmakers Thursday after being held up for weeks by Democrats.

SB 49, the “Missouri Save Adolescents from Experimentation (SAFE) Act,” passed 24-8. It forbids medical providers from giving cross-sex hormones, puberty-blockers or sex-change surgery to minors.  

SB 39 passed 25-8. It would prevent transgender girls – biological boys who transition genders – from competing in girls sports.

In order to advance the bills, Republican lawmakers agreed to sunset the legislation in 2027 and to exempt minors currently undergoing transgender treatments from the restrictions of SB 49, according to local KMOV. 

Senate President Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, tweeted about the “strong set of policies aimed at protecting Missouri kids” on Tuesday, when the legislation finally began moving again..

This morning, the @MoSenateGOP passed two comprehensive bills that:

✅ Ban biological males from playing in female sports

✅ Ban gender transition surgeries for minors in Missouri.

✅ Ban the use of hormones for the purpose of gender transition for minors.#MOLeg 1/2

— Caleb Rowden (@calebrowden) March 21, 2023

Early Tuesday morning, the two bills were finally perfected after being stalled by Democratic lawmakers for weeks.

Rowden said in December he hoped the legislature would address such issues, calling the medical transition of minors “asinine.”  

When a former employee of the Transgender Clinic at St. Louis Children’s Hospital blew the whistle on its “appalling” practices in February, lawmakers moved quickly to address the issue. 

The bills now move to the House, where they are expected to pass.