St. Louis Mayor signs executive order to support transgender community

St. Louis becomes the second city in Missouri to take steps toward welcoming the transgender community.

St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed an executive order Thursday that calls on city agencies to pursue policies to reduce the impact new laws targeting the transgender community will have.

The legislature passed bills earlier this session banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors and banning transgender girls from playing on women’s sports teams in all schools.  Governor Mike Parson is expected to sign the bills into law.

According to KSDK-TV, the St. Louis order calls on the city’s health department to increase information about gender-affirming care, requires inclusivity training for city employees, mandates that city-run sports programs do not ask participants about their gender identity, and designates one bathroom in each city building as an all-gender facility.  The city’s economic development team will also be asked to recommend incentives for business to support gender inclusivity.

Earlier this month, the Kansas City Council passed a resolution saying the city would not prosecute or fine any person or organization that seeks, provides, receives, or helps someone receive gender affirming care.  The resolution also says if the state imposes punishments, fines, or sanctions in such cases, enforcing those requirements will be the city’s lower priority.   Attorney General Andrew Bailey has said he’ll take any steps necessary to make sure Kansas City enforces state laws.