COLUMBIA, MO — (03-03-25) — Over 100 LGBTQ+ Americans protested out in the cold and windy weather last Saturday, after the Missouri Senate passed a bill to remove expiration date on transgender health care ban. The anti-Transgender bill now heads to the Missouri House for consideration. Only two Republicans voted in opposition to the bill, Senator Mike Moon of Ash Grove and Senator Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold.
The LGBTQ+ rally attendees chanted the phrases of “We are here to stay,” “Columbia is no place for hate” and “President Trump, shame on you.”
The Boone County protest was one of four throughout the state as similar demonstrations occurred at the State Capitol in Jefferson City, Kansas City and St. Louis on Saturday.
The Missouri legislature is attempting to follow president Donald Trump’ numerous executive orders targeting transgender Americans. LGBTQ+ speakers at the event stressed the importance of not only transgender youth medical care but also for community care and support.
“Every single additional affirming relationship, whether it is an adult, whether it is a peer, whether it is a family member, a teacher or someone on the street,” said Vera Elwood, youth program coordinator for The Center Project, an LGBTQ+ community center in Columbia. “That continues to reduce their suicide risk. Every single affirming and loving relationship that we can give these kids keeps them alive.” said Elwood.
Transgender woman Verity Tatum, spoke about the history of raids and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community like the Pulse Nightclub massacre that took place in 2018.
“Every trans kid. Your gay step-brother. Your mother’s collegiate ménage à trois. Granddad’s fling during his tour in the Navy. Sam Nordquist. Abraham Lincoln’s sleeping arrangement with Joshua Fry Speed. The words of Emily Dickinson. The existence and identity of Universal Friend. Every queer. ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell,’ which I lived through in 2005,” said Tatum.
Article by: Paul Goldberg, Staff Writer
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