LGBTQ+ groups urge prisons not to stop gender-affirming care for trans inmateshttps://www.thepinknews.com/2026/07/16/missouri-trans-inmates-gender-affirming-care-trevor-foley/ 🔗Jack Wetherill (16 July 2026)
PROMO, a Missouri organisation defending the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, alongside trans and non-binary Representative Wick Thomas, members of the LGBTQ+ Faith Alliance, a group of healthcare professionals, and members of Black & Pink, hosted a press conference after they were informed of at least two transgender inmates who were taken off their gender-affirming medication.
Jessica Hicklin was also part of the press conference. Hicklin is a transgender woman who was blocked from accessing hormone therapy while at the Potosi Correctional Center for male inmates in Missouri. A federal district court ruled that Hicklin should have her gender-affirming care resumed in May 2018. Hicklin was released in early 2022.
It came after House Bill 9, which included instructions that "no funds shall be expended for any cross-sex hormones, or gender transition surgery undertaken for the purpose of any gender transition".
According to PROMO, Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) director Trevor Foley informed a number of state senators, including Senator McCreery and Senator Patty Lewis, on 29 April that the ruling would not be enforced as it was "unenforceable and illegal".
Despite this, PROMO say at least two trans inmates were taken off their medication which had been prescribed and deemed medically necessary as of 8 July.
