‘It’s just evil’: Kansas City activists say Missouri rules harm, alienate trans people
After she started receiving gender-affirming care around two years ago, Hazel Krebs said her life finally made sense.
Krebs began the process of medically transitioning at the University of Kansas Medical Center and legally changed her name in early 2022. Before making the decision to transition, she dealt with anxiety, depression and substance use disorders for years.
“[Gender-affirming care] was life-saving for me,” she said. “It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
On Sunday, Krebs joined dozens of other protesters at Mill Creek Park to rally against an executive action by Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey that would drastically reduce access to gender-affirming care when it goes into effect on April 27.
The executive action would require 15 hour-long therapy sessions over 18 months before someone can receive gender-affirming care. It’s considered one of the most strict anti-trans actions in the country, because it targets both adults and children.
Bailey’s office has said the restrictions are aimed at stopping gender-affirming care for minors, but the legislation makes no distinction between children and adults.
‘Wrenching away life-saving care’
Sheania Crowley, who organized Sunday’s rally, said she and other trans people and allies needed to take action as soon as possible because of how quickly the restrictions are set to take effect.
Crowley said while Bailey and other Republicans have said they are protecting minors by working to restrict gender-affirming care, the rates of suicide among transgender children and adults are likely to rise if they can’t get care they need.
“Suicide rates for transgender adults and children are already monstrously high, and this is going to do nothing but increase that,” she said. “This is wrenching away life-saving care that has saved the lives of thousands of our siblings. It’s just evil.”
Hazel Baumgartner hasn’t started the process of medically transitioning.
They live in Missouri but have been considering leaving the state for the last year because of anti-trans measures. In the last few weeks, she increased those efforts, secured a place to live in Charlotte, North Carolina, and is raising funds to move by September.
“It’s a big change,” they said. “I’ve been in Missouri the past 13 years, and I’m having to leave over this shit.”
Another trans person at the rally, who asked not to be identified, said he’s already experienced issues. He’s also worried that, because some of the restrictions specifically apply to people with depression and PTSD, the hormone replacement therapy he’s received for years could be taken away.
But, he said, it was hormone replacement therapy that helped ease his depression so that he sees his therapist fewer times a month and doesn’t need anti-depressants anymore.
‘A lack of understanding’
Lily DeSett lives in Kansas now but began the process of medical transitioning in Missouri in 2017 when she was 23. Before she started treatment, DeSett said she was depressed and had suicidal thoughts. Without gender-affirming care, she said she wouldn’t be alive.
Lawmakers, she said, seem to think trans people make the decision to medically transition on a whim and have easy access to hormone treatments.
DeSett’s process was long and controlled. Planned Parenthood walked DeSett through the risks of medical transitioning and started her on a low dose of medication. Each month, she got a blood test before doctors would agree to increase her dosage.
“There’s a lack of understanding of the trans medical process,” she said, “so maybe before passing laws or executive decisions like this, maybe they should talk to trans people first and figure out what is going on with us first before stepping on us.”
To help trans people, Crowley said allies need to use their time to contact their representatives, join protests and take further action immediately to make sure their concerns are known to lawmakers.
DeSett said she hopes if more people make their support for trans people known, lawmakers will have to listen.
“I’m hopeful,” she said, “that even if it’s not today or tomorrow that peace, common sense and humanity prevails.”
This story was originally published April 18, 2023 at 11:42 AM.
