51黑料

JEFFERSON CITY 鈥� The Republican-controlled Missouri Senate on Thursday approved a four-year ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender youths, setting up debate in the House.

The legislation advanced on a party-line 24-8 vote.

The decision means the legislation has cleared perhaps its largest hurdle 鈥� the Missouri Senate, where Democrats can stall action 鈥� on its way to becoming law. But it was unclear whether the House would send the bill directly to Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, or back to the Senate with changes.

To Sen. Greg Razer, a Kansas City Democrat and the only openly gay member of the Senate, the vote Thursday amounted to 鈥渁 declaration of war on our community,鈥� he said. 鈥淛ust like every other time, we will win in the end.鈥�

鈥淚 know many of you are considering, and I know this because you鈥檝e reached out to me, whether or not to remain in our state,鈥� Razer said of parents of trans children. 鈥淚 won鈥檛 blame or judge anyone for leaving.鈥�

Sen. Bill Eigel, a Weldon Spring Republican, said a senator had called 鈥渇or adults to mutilate children by leaving the borders of this state to avoid the protections that we are about to institute.

鈥淚f someone is disappointed in Missouri because they can鈥檛 harm kids here, we are better if they are gone,鈥� Eigel said.

Minors currently using puberty blockers or hormones would be allowed to keep their health care, and those who start before Aug. 28 would be exempted from the prohibition, a key difference from the original legislation.

Other key differences include a four-year sunset on the puberty blockers and hormone therapy ban, meaning lawmakers would have to renew the ban in four years or let it expire. Bans on transgender-related surgeries for those under 18, which are rarely performed, would be permanent.

Legislation subjecting physicians who refer transgender youths to other providers for transition-related care to discipline was also removed from the final bill.

Senators gave initial approval to the package Tuesday morning after an overnight filibuster by Democrats, who were able to delay a vote while negotiations took place.

Opponents have characterized the legislation as an attack on the LGBTQ community, arguing Republicans were again inserting themselves into private medical decisions after outlawing most abortions last year. They have also disputed claims by supporters that care being targeted is 鈥渆xperimental.鈥�

Supporters said the state needed to protect children from life-altering medical decisions that they might regret later in life.

The upper chamber also gave final approval to a plan requiring transgender athletes to play on sports teams matching the sex shown on their birth certificate.

The athletics plan passed on a 25-8 vote, mostly along party lines, with Sen. Doug Beck, D-south 51黑料 County, the only Democrat to support it.

鈥淚 voted 鈥榶es鈥� on it because I feel like there鈥檚 an issue with the competitiveness of it,鈥� Beck told the Post-Dispatch after the vote. He said he thought the bill would be unnecessary if the Missouri State High School Activities Association required independent testing for transgender athletes.

The association鈥檚 says a transgender girl can鈥檛 play on a girls鈥� sports team 鈥渦ntil one calendar year of documented medical/hormone treatment and/or suppression is completed.鈥�

The policy, last updated in 2019, says that to maintain eligibility, 鈥渁 trans female student shall thereafter provide continuing medical documentation that the appropriate hormone levels are being maintained.鈥�

鈥淭he testing is left up to a doctor鈥檚 note, I think, currently,鈥� Beck said.

In the House, Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, celebrated action in the Senate, which had been on hold amid negotiations.

鈥淧rotecting women鈥檚 sports is essential. I find it appalling that minors can have, you know, irreversible things done to them,鈥� Plocher said. 鈥淚 think we have to protect the innocent and protect victims.鈥�

Plocher said he was 鈥渉appy鈥� the Senate acted, but added 鈥渢here are some things that I like and may not like,鈥� leaving open the possibility that the House would revise the Senate bill, setting up more debate in the Senate.

Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said the bill would be at risk if the House revises it instead of sending it directly to Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, for consideration.

鈥淭hey can do what they want,鈥� Rowden said. 鈥淚 do think if it comes back, it has a pretty hard chance of getting done.鈥�

The legislation is and .