St. Louis mayor signs executive order protecting trans residents

ST LOUIS – St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones signed an executive order protecting transgender residents on Thursday, May 26.

The order puts the city in direct opposition to recently passed state laws.

“In St. Louis, everyone deserves to thrive, regardless of their gender identity or expression,” said Jones. “I’ve heard from trans youth and their families who feel like hateful attacks from Jefferson City Republicans will force them to leave our state. This order sends the message that St. Louis will fight to protect our trans community in the face of bigotry.”

The order enacts more inclusive practices in four main:

• Increasing access to information both about gender-affirming care and about how to access gender-affirming care;
• Providing more supportive and safe opportunities for trans youth to participate in sports in the City of St. Louis’ recreation centers;
• Further ensuring that the functions of City government are supportive and inclusive of transgender residents and the City’s workforce; and
• Mitigating the economic harm of the recent state legislation by identifying ways to further accommodate transgender individuals and their families through development and business opportunities.

“All of our children in St. Louis deserve to know that there are still elected leaders out here fighting for them,” said Susan Halla, president of TransParent. “I am grateful to Mayor Jones for instituting these important changes in the face of recent attacks on trans youth from the Missouri legislature.”

“Mayor Jones sent a clear message with her executive order — trans Missourians are valued here and should be allowed to thrive just as anyone else,” said PROMO spokesperson Robert Fischer. “It’s incredible to see a growing number of cities who are defending trans Missourians and taking significant stands to condemn legislation awaiting the governor’s signature. Community leaders are speaking out against anti-trans legislation and saying, ‘You’re not listening, we don’t want this.’ “

Missouri has been one of the most active states in proposing and passing anti-LGBTQ laws in the country, often ranking as having the highest or second highest number of bills.

You can read the executive order here.