Missouri Governor Signs Controversial Transgender Health Care and Sports Ban

Missouri's Republican governor has signed bills that will ban transgender minors and some adults from accessing gender-affirming treatments, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries, as well as some school sports teams. The law will come into effect on August 28, and will expire in 2027. The state's Planned Parenthood clinics have been ramping up available appointments and holding pop-up clinics to start patients on treatments ahead of the law taking effect. The bans come amid a national push by conservatives to put restrictions on transgender and nonbinary people.