Hundreds gather in Jefferson City to protest Missouri bills taking away rights from trans kids

The rally comes after the Republican-led Senate passed two bills limiting transgender youth from accessing health care that affirms their gender, and participating in sports that match their gender identity. Both bills still need to pass the House.
Over 300 people took over the south lawn of the Missouri Capitol for a couple of hours on Wednesday to protest a pair of bills targeting transgender youth in the state.

“We show up clearly today in love and in community, certainly, but we also show up in righteous anger and in rage,” said Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director of PROMO, an LGBTQ public policy and advocacy organization.

The demonstration cames less than a week after the Republican-led state Senate passed legislation barring transgender youth from receiving gender-affirming health care and participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity.