- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Legal, but requires surgery
- Gender-Affirming Care
- Ambiguous
- Non-Binary Gender Recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✖ No protections
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Intersex Infant Surgery
- ✖ Not banned
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- Varies by Region
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
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Public Opinion
Surveys in Missouri have shown mixed views towards LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
Perception of LGBTQ+ People
Survey results from 6 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Missouri.
Overall
Perceived Safety**Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.
Equal Treatment
Visibility & Representation
Culture
Services
History
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 Missouri later repealed its sodomy ban in 2006; among the first Republican-majority states to do so.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.
Until Aug 6, 2024
Legal, but requires medical diagnosis
There are no explicit laws on requiring medical diagnosis for changing gender or name. People will have to go through an medical professional to get a signed document for name change.
Gender-affirming care in Missouri is ambiguous.
Current status
Since 2023
Ambiguous
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 that are in prison are also affected by this bill and are unable to receive gender affirming care while incarcerated.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Missouri is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Missouri is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Since Aug 28, 2003
Illegal in some contexts
Missouri's hate crime statutes explicitly address both sexual orientation, defined as "male or female heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality by inclination, practice, identity or expression," and gender identity, defined as "having a self-image or identity not traditionally associated with one's gender."
Illegal in some contexts
14 cities have sexual discrimination protections. 13 cities have gender identity discrimination protection. full protections under Missouri's hate crime law. State employment discrimination protections pending. Court decision pending. pending statewide.
LGBT employment discrimination in Missouri is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
Until Jun 15, 2020
No protections
There are no legal protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. However, executive branch employees of the state are protected based upon sexual orientation only.
LGBT housing discrimination in Missouri is no protections.
Current status
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
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
No US state has enacted a ban on surgeries that attempt to change an intersex minors sex without their consent.
Serving openly in military in Missouri is legal.
Current status
Since Apr 30, 2021
Legal under federal United States law
President Joe Biden removed former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, and transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2025.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
New policy goes into effect barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria."
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
#151
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