- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- ✖ Restricted
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Hate Crime Protections
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- Varies by Region
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✖ Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- Unknown
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Public Opinion
Surveys in Missouri have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
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Homosexual activity in Missouri is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
The US Supreme Court's ruling issued in Lawrence v. Texas (2003) struck down all sodomy laws on the basis of privacy and liberty. The decision overturned any laws remaining in all US states which prohibited acts of sodomy. Missouri later repealed its sodomy ban in 2006; among the first Republican-majority states to do so.
Same-sex marriage in Missouri is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Censorship of LGBT issues in Missouri is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
In Missouri, there are no laws restricting the discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics.
Right to change legal gender in Missouri is legal, but requires surgery.
Current status
Since Aug 6, 2024
Legal, but requires surgery
Transgender people were already required to have gender-affirming surgery to change their gender id on birth certificates, but it was different for drivers licenses. Previously, for drivers licenses, transgender people were required to provide the signature of a physician, therapist or social worker to approve a change in gender designation. Now, transgender people are mandated to provide documentation of gender reassignment surgery or a court order. The change in policy is expected to have happened because of a controversy that erupted earlier this month over a transgender woman who used the women’s locker rooms at a private gym in Ellisville.
Gender-affirming care in Missouri is restricted.
Current status
Since Aug 28, 2023
Restricted
Minors under 18 are unable to get gender affirming care under SB49, however, the bill allows before August 28th, 2023 to continue gender-affirming care. Adults and Minors who are in prison are also affected by this bill and are unable to receive gender-affirming care while incarcerated. Medicaid coverage for GAC is also banned for any transgender individuals.
Note: this ban expires on August 28th 2027.
Note: this ban expires on August 28th 2027.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Missouri is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Missouri does not legally recognize a third gender.
Hate crime protections in Missouri is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Aug 28, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Missouri law protects individuals from hate crimes on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. (Missouri law interprets sexual orientation to include gender identity)
LGBT discrimination in Missouri is varies by region.
Current status
Since 2019
Varies by Region
There are no statewide legal protections however, select local municipalities have non-discrimination ordinances under varied context.
Additionally, based on 2 Missouri Supreme Court decisions, discrimination on the basis of gender identity in public accommodations and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment may be prohibited under sex discrimination.
Additionally, based on 2 Missouri Supreme Court decisions, discrimination on the basis of gender identity in public accommodations and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation in employment may be prohibited under sex discrimination.
LGBT employment discrimination in Missouri is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation only
President Trump's Department of Justice and the EEOC revoked protections for gender identity in employment discrimination. Executive branch employees of the state are protected based on sexual orientation only under state law.
Sexual orientation and gender identity
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that “[A]llegations of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation necessarily state a claim of discrimination on the basis of sex”, and are barred by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This ruling applies at both the state and federal levels. No statewide protections exist.
Gender identity only
No statewide protections exist, but in May of 2013, the state senate passed a bill giving protections for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation however, the state house never considered it and no state protections exist.
In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama's EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination).
In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama's EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination).
Until Apr 19, 2012
LGBT housing discrimination in Missouri is varies by region.
Current status
Varies by Region
There are no statewide legal protections however, select local municipalities have non-discrimination ordinances which protect individuals from housing discrimination.
Additionally, HUD's 2012 Equal Access Rule prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for housing programs, shelters and other HUD-funded providers.
Additionally, HUD's 2012 Equal Access Rule prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation for housing programs, shelters and other HUD-funded providers.
Same-sex adoption in Missouri is legal.
Current status
Legal
Single-parent and join-adoption are legal per MO Stat. §453.010. Additionally, second-parent adoption has been approved in several lower courts.
Intersex infant surgery in Missouri is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Missouri's SAFE act which bans gender-affirming care for minors carves out an exception for intersex youth, allowing intersex infant surgery.
Serving openly in military in Missouri is lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned.
Current status
Since May 6, 2025
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
Midday on May 6th, 2025, the Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender service members while the court reviews their case.
Legal under federal United States law
On the evening of March 18th, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the implementation of Trump's executive order banning transgender people from the military. The judge said that not only was the order unconstitutional but “a solution in search of a problem.”.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
On January 27th, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
On February 10th, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.
From then until March 18th, 2025, The U.S. military prohibited transgender individuals from enlisting and ceased providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2021, former President Joe Biden removed then-former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Blood donations by MSMs in Missouri is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
Conversion therapy in Missouri is varies by region.
Current status
Since Oct 7, 2019
Varies by Region
Several jurisdictions in Missouri have banned conversion therapy,
with the first city being Columbia on October 7, 2019. Kansas City, St. Louis, North Kansas City, and Independence are cities that all followed suit before the end of 2021. Jackson County became the first county in Missouri to ban conversion therapy on April 19, 2023.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify the legitimacy of the scope of these laws.
A bill to ban counselors from providing conversion therapy for minors was pending in January 2025.
with the first city being Columbia on October 7, 2019. Kansas City, St. Louis, North Kansas City, and Independence are cities that all followed suit before the end of 2021. Jackson County became the first county in Missouri to ban conversion therapy on April 19, 2023.
State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify the legitimacy of the scope of these laws.
A bill to ban counselors from providing conversion therapy for minors was pending in January 2025.
United States Equality Rank
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#29 Alaska72
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#30 Ohio70
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#31 Kansas69
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#32 Missouri69
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#33 Georgia68
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#34 Nebraska66
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#35 Indiana65
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