Noe v. Parson FAQ

What is this case about?

Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Missouri, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP filed a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court to block the implementation of SB 49, which would prevent transgender adolescents in Missouri from accessing evidence-based gender-affirming medical care. The law is scheduled to take effect on August 28.

Who are the plaintiffs?

The legal advocates filed the challenge to SB 49 on behalf of PFLAG National, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, three families of transgender young people, and medical providers.

What has been the timeline for this case to date?

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey filed an emergency rule on April 13 seeking to impose severe restrictions on gender-affirming care for transgender people of all ages. Lambda Legal, the ACLU of Missouri, and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP filed Southampton Community Healthcare v. Bailey on behalf of Southampton Community Healthcare, Kelly Storck, Logan Casey and the families of two young transgender people, seeking a temporary restraining order to block implementation of the rule.

On May 16, Attorney General Bailey rescinded the rule after the court issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the rule. Meanwhile, on May 10, the Missouri legislature passed SB 49, signed by Governor Parson on June 7.

The law went into effect on August 28, 2023.

Why is PFLAG a plaintiff in this case?

Every person, transgender or not, does better when they can get the health care they need when they need it. Yet, if enacted, Missouri law SB49 would put the government in the doctorʼs office and prevent transgender youth in particular from accessing medically necessary care.

PFLAG is suing to challenge the legality of SB49, which bans medically necessary, gender-affirming care for transgender young people under the age of 18 and MO HealthNet (Medicaid) recipients—including transgender foster youth and youth and adults who are incarcerated or who are wards of the state. PFLAG has hundreds of members in Missouri who are directly affected and harmed by this law, which is scheduled to take effect on August 28, 2023. The lawsuit seeks to block the law from taking effect.

What does it mean to be a member of PFLAG National?

Being a member of PFLAG is ultimately about leading with love, for yourself, for your family, and for the LGBTQ+ community. PFLAG supports families, educates allies, and advocates for equality through a vast network of supporters, members, and chapters across the country, including five chapters in Missouri. People who join PFLAG enjoy the community of participating in local meetings and events, educational opportunities, Pride celebrations, workshops, panels, family programming and so much more. PFLAG members have joined and paid dues either to their local PFLAG chapter or directly to PFLAG National; both of these make you a member of PFLAG.

If I am a parent of a trans kid in Missouri and a member of my local PFLAG chapter, is my family covered by this case?

Yes. PFLAG is asking the court to block the State of Missouri from enforcing SB49 against our members. All dues-paying members of PFLAG in Missouri are considered party to this case.

How do I become a member of PFLAG?

PFLAG is for LGBTQ+ people, their parents, families, and allies. All families in Missouri that include transgender loved ones in particular are encouraged to join PFLAG. There are two ways to become a member:

1. You can join your local chapter in Missouri by paying their membership fee, part of which will come to PFLAG National and make you a member of both the national organization and your local chapter; or
2. You can join PFLAG National directly. Visit pflag.org/become-a-member to learn more about both options and choose which is right for you. Have questions? Reach out to us at [email protected].

I do not have the personal means to pay for a PFLAG membership. Is there financial support for me to join? And if so, how do I access that support?

We are happy to work with families on a case-by-case basis to ensure they are able to become PFLAG members. Please contact us at [email protected] for support.

Why isn’t PFLAG taking legal action in my home state?

This is a time of unprecedented attacks on our community, with 82 anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ laws passing in states around the country this year alone. There simply is not capacity at this particular moment to challenge each and every one of these laws in court because of the volume of these discriminatory laws.

This does not mean your state and your community are being left behind. There are many lawsuits happening across the country as legal advocates work strategically to fend off these attacks on transgender kids, their families, and their healthcare and ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone. The legal strategies for fighting those laws vary based on a huge number of factors, but the goal of every one of those lawsuits is to prevent and minimize the harm these kids will experience no matter the odds.

PFLAG National does not independently decide where to bring suit but, instead, works with legal advocates as they begin to consider the strategies. For more information about particular lawsuits, we encourage you to reach out to the legal advocates for further support. These include Lambda Legal and ACLU at the national and state levels.

PFLAG National plays a critical role in supporting and protecting those families, regardless of whether the organization formally serves as a plaintiff in litigation in any given state.