ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - New research shows one in three Missouri healthcare providers are considering leaving the state after an increase in anti-LGBTQ-plus legislation.
The Transgender Health Collaborative at St. Louis University interviewed LGBTQ+ families, LGBTQ+ adults and health care providers in the state who had some contact with the LGBTQ+ community and found that stress from the political climate in the state was similar between health care providers and parents.
"We thought we might see differences depending on group." said Katie Heiden-Rootes, Assistant Vice President in the Division of Diversity & Innovative Community Engagement for the Collaborative. "We were surprised to find the stress parents were feeling was the same health care providers were feeling."
The Collaborative at the university found 40 percent of parents of LGBTQ+ youth in Missouri say they are considering leaving the state, with many the reason for consideration of leaving is due a marked increase in the number of bills filed in the Missouri legislation that would impact the educational and health care environment.
"I believe there was 35 bills that were filed this year," said Heiden-Rootes, "Last year there was a couple dozen at least, including two that passed aimed at transgender youth minors, gender affirming medical care and then playing in sports in the state."
Heiden-Rootes says many people in the LGBTQ+ community are worried about the safety of their children.
"It didn't matter, for example parents, if their kid was a part of the transgender community, just being a part of the larger LGBTQ community made it enough of a threat in terms of their fear for their kid in school and their communities they were operating in." said Heiden Rootes.