"Transitioning saved my life. Even my conservative family can see that: I went from an insecure, sad little girl to the proud, confident man you see here today." -Gray S

Very excited for our next testifier, Landon Patterson, a trans woman who transitioned at 16, won homecoming queen, and is "living, breathing proof of what it looks like to support trans kids, and let them be themselves!"

"I have known many trans children...and them living as themselves is a profound act of grace and beauty." -- A Catholic Priest!!!! "I believe in a loving God who has fashioned each person...and I am not afraid to imagine a world more profound than male & female."

Dr. Adams is being cut off for running over time and Rep Weber jumping right in to "ask him a question" and then yielding all her time. "Listen to medical professionals who have studied, not....office workers who get paid to travel around and talk against trans people." -Rep Aune bringing the smirk!

Rep. Overcast (R), trying to suggest that being trans is a mental illness, is citing a study from "The Journal of Homosexuality". Ummm, huh? What is this journal? Internet, do your thing

Before open testimony, there are "designated witnesses", but the 2nd witness in favor of these bigoted bills didn't show....so next up is my friend and hero, Dr. Sharon Vermont, a pediatrician who has helped trans kids for decades.

I took a picture of Jamie Reed coming down from the witness stand. She looked back and snarkily said, "would you like me to wave and smile?" "Sure!" Here you go, friends: the face of hurting someone in order to get a payday. #ProtectTransKids

First up is #HB35, one of 4 identical bills that would eliminate the "sunset clause" in Missouri's gender-affirming-care ban from 2 years ago. Rep. Billington is quite difficult to understand, but what is clear is that he's sharing all sorts of lies and distortions around trans medical care.

I'm sitting here in the room with Dr. Sharon Vermont, a fierce ally to trans kids (and a doctor with experience treating trans and gender-queer kids). She's incredible, and will be one of our star witnesses for a few of the *eight* anti-trans bills we're going to hear today. #ProtectTransKids

Most of the Dem leadership in Missouri (who have been such powerful allies to us) were termed out last session, so we're dealing with a lot of new members. One of those new members in Rep. Thomas, our first non-binary/trans member of the #MOLeg.

Ok--here we go. Members are filing in and we're about to get started on 5+ hours of bigoted, hateful anti-trans hearings designed to harm some of the most vulnerable kids in Missouri. 🧵 #ProtectTransKids #MOLeg

Y'all gotta come over for dinner and jamming!