JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A new bill proposed in the Missouri House looks to criminalize teachers who help students with gender transitions.Â
Republican representative Jeff Farnan proposed House Bill on Thursday. The bill states that any teacher or school counselor who helps a student with a "social transition" would face a class E felony charge. In Missouri, this level of felony could result in a $10,000 fine and jail time. The bill would also require any teacher charged with this crime to register as a sex offender.Â
The bill goes on to define a social transition as "the process by which an individual adopts the name, pronouns, and gender expression, such as clothing or haircuts, that match the individual's gender identity and not the gender assumed by the individual's sex at birth."Â
Under this bill, any teacher or counselor giving "support" to a gender-questioning student may face this felony charge. This support can be physical materials, general information or other resources. The bill applies to any student under 18 years old.Â
