LGBTQ+ Justice

Through litigation, policy advocacy, public education, and organizing, the ACLU of Missouri works to defend the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, queer, and intersex (LGBTQ+) Missourians. For decades, the ACLU of Missouri has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ people in our state. Our work includes fighting for fair treatment by the government; protecting transgender and queer people from discrimination in jobs, schools, housing, and public accommodations; and working for equal rights for same-sex couples and their families.

Over the past several years, bills targeting transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming, and intersex (TGNCI) Missourians have been introduced in record numbers in our state. But we’re fighting back. TGNCI people belong in Missouri.

In the Courts

• Challenging Missouri’s ban on lifesaving gender-affirming medical care for minors and prohibition on Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming medical care for trans people of any age (E.N. v. Kehoe, formerly known as Noe v. Parson)
• Suing an employer on behalf of a transgender woman who was denied insurance coverage for facial feminization surgery (FFS), resulting in the employer revising its internal policy to no longer outright deny such claims and awarding our client enough money to pay for her surgery (Duncan v. Jack Henry & Associates, Inc.)

In the Statehouse

• Providing critical legal analysis and expert testimony to help defeat anti-trans bills before they become law
• Working with coalition partners on lobbying and public education efforts to stop or reduce the harm of anti-trans bills, and informing the public about new bills

In the Community

• Organizing Know Your Rights trainings to keep impacted community members, loved ones, and allies informed
• Informing the legal community about the state of trans justice in Missouri

Jamie Sgarro (he/him)
Legal Fellow focused on trans justice

Email: jsgarro@aclu-mo.org