Posted on May 12, 2022
For Missouri's transgender youth and their parents, the legislature's focus causes anxiety
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For three years, Missouri Republicans have attempted to pass legislation prohibiting trans girls from playing on girls’ sports teams. Parents say their children just want to play sports with their friends, and the measure would "codify into law discrimination against trans youth."
When Jennifer Harris Dault’s daughter Hope came out to her kindergarten class as a transgenderr girl via Zoom, no one really batted an eye. Her teachers supported her, and so did her friends. Rori Picker Neiss’s son had a similar experience when he came out as a boy. The two kids, ages 7 and 11 years old, have faced an outpouring of support from their communities and schools.
But the Missouri legislature doesn’t feel the same way.
When Jennifer Harris Dault’s daughter Hope came out to her kindergarten class as a transgenderr girl via Zoom, no one really batted an eye. Her teachers supported her, and so did her friends. Rori Picker Neiss’s son had a similar experience when he came out as a boy. The two kids, ages 7 and 11 years old, have faced an outpouring of support from their communities and schools.
But the Missouri legislature doesn’t feel the same way.
For Missouri's transgender youth and their parents, the legislature's focus causes anxiety
Posted from kcur.org
LGBTQ+
Transgender
Gender
Children
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Picker Neiss and Harris Dault’s kids have both stood strong in the face of legislation that targets their identities. Picker Neiss said her son remains confident, even after hearing lawmakers speak negatively about trans kids at the capitol.
“I have been scared about bringing him so much, and what it’s doing to him to have to keep hearing this from people. And what he said to me is, ‘I know they're wrong,’” she said. “I think, what does it mean to be 7 years old and know who you are? To be able to stand up and say, ‘I know that I'm a boy.’ I mean, the self reflection that he's done is more than many of us have done when we reach our 30s and 40s. And so it's just amazing to see.”
While their kids have strong, supportive communities and families and schools, it’s not always easy. With more bills every year that target trans kids, Harris Dault said she and her husband are perpetually worried.
“I'm going to be biting my fingernails until the very last moment,” she said. “I'm up at night. My husband and I have conversations every day. And probably for the last month, at least one of us has been in tears every day as we think about what these bills could mean for us and our family and for so many others across the state.”
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Emily Woodbury, Kayla Drake, Danny Wicentowski and Alex Heuer. Jane Mather-Glass is our production assistant. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr."
..."Picker Neiss and Harris Dault’s kids have both stood strong in the face of legislation that targets their identities. Picker Neiss said her son remains confident, even after hearing lawmakers speak negatively about trans kids at the capitol.
“I have been scared about bringing him so much, and what it’s doing to him to have to keep hearing this from people. And what he said to me is, ‘I know they're wrong,’” she said. “I think, what does it mean to be 7 years old and know who you are? To be able to stand up and say, ‘I know that I'm a boy.’ I mean, the self reflection that he's done is more than many of us have done when we reach our 30s and 40s. And so it's just amazing to see.”
While their kids have strong, supportive communities and families and schools, it’s not always easy. With more bills every year that target trans kids, Harris Dault said she and her husband are perpetually worried.
“I'm going to be biting my fingernails until the very last moment,” she said. “I'm up at night. My husband and I have conversations every day. And probably for the last month, at least one of us has been in tears every day as we think about what these bills could mean for us and our family and for so many others across the state.”
“St. Louis on the Air” brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. The show is hosted by Sarah Fenske and produced by Emily Woodbury, Kayla Drake, Danny Wicentowski and Alex Heuer. Jane Mather-Glass is our production assistant. The audio engineer is Aaron Doerr."
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