GLMA Condemns Court’s Decision to Uphold Ban on Essential Health Care for Transgender Missourians

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 25, 2024


Contact: Eli Duffy
Director of Communications & Strategic Partnerships
eduffy@glma.org

On November 25th, the Missouri Circuit Court issued a disappointing ruling refusing to halt enforcement of S.B. 49, Missouri’s discriminatory ban on evidence-based medical care for transgender youth and Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming medical care for transgender people of any age. The law also penalizes health professionals who provide such care to minors with the loss of their medical licenses.

In the case of Noe v. Parson, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri filed a lawsuit challenging the law. As organizational plaintiffs, GLMA and PFLAG National sued on behalf of Missouri providers and transgender youth along with their families.

"This decision is deeply disappointing, as it prioritizes politics over the health and dignity of transgender Missourians,” said GLMA’s Executive Director, Alex Sheldon, MA (they/them). “Denying evidence-based, best-practice medical care undermines the voices of patients, parents, and dedicated health professionals alike and will inevitably weaken the state’s healthcare system overall. But for GLMA, the fight for compassionate, equitable health care for all is far from over.”

"The Missouri Court's decision to withhold care from transgender patients, while simultaneously allowing the same treatments for non-transgender individuals, underscores that this decision was informed by politics rather than science,” GLMA’s President, Jona Tanguay, MMSc, PA-C, AAHIVS (they/them). “This will only further marginalize and harm regular Americans who deserve access to healthcare. Targeting adults on Medicaid is particularly egregious and shows that extremists will not stop with youth care bans. GLMA remains firm in its opposition to the cruel and unnecessary bans in Missouri and nationwide.”

You can read more from our partners in this case, Lambda Legal and the ACLU of Missouri here.

About GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality
GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities and equality for LGBTQ+ health professionals in their work and learning environments.  To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research. glma.org