06/22/2026
PROMO, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, St. Louis Anti-Violence Project, and Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis Express Deep Concern Over Proposed HUD Changes to Equal Access Rule and State Developments.
Please read the full joint statement below to learn more:
PROMO, Metro Trans Umbrella Group, the St. Louis Anti-Violence Project, and the Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis are sharing two important policy updates that directly impact the safety, housing stability, and well-being of transgender, gender nonconforming, and inters*x (TGI) individuals in our communities.
Our organizations are closely monitoring a newly proposed federal rule regarding the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) 2016 Equal Access Rule. By removing references to "gender" and "gender identity" and allowing emergency programs to determine housing placement based on s*x assigned at birth, this policy could pose significant safety risks to TGI individuals seeking shelter.
"HUD's current posture may create confusion and fear, but transgender people should still know that federal protections against s*x discrimination remain in place. The precedent established by Bostock v. Clayton County continues to provide a powerful legal foundation for challenging discrimination against transgender people. Civil rights are not erased by a change in administration, and THISTL will continue to educate housing service providers to better serve Trans people." stated Beth Gombos, executive director of Trans Housing Initiative St. Louis.
In addition, TGI individuals already navigate disproportionately high rates of violence, housing instability, and barriers to finding safe housing. As noted by Stephanie Null executive director of St. Louis Anti-Violence Project, "Survivors of violence should not have to settle for staying with an abusive partner or in unsafe environments because of fear of discrimination.”
Modifying these vital protections risks placing vulnerable individuals in unsafe environments or discouraging them from seeking life-saving emergency services altogether.
"Every week we [Metro Trans Umbrella Group] deliver food, provide clothing, and hold space for hundreds of trans and nonbinary people across the Greater St. Louis region. Many of them have experienced housing instability or violence. We're going to keep doing that work regardless of what Washington or Jefferson City decides. But our community shouldn't have to keep surviving what our own government throws at us. These are real people's lives,” stated Nokie Rae executive director of Metro Trans Umbrella Group.
How to Take Action: The federal government is required to review public input before finalizing this rule. We call on our community members, neighbors, and partners to submit a professional public comment sharing how important safe housing is for all TGI individuals including those impacted by relational violence by June 29th. Public comments can be made here: https://action.transequality.org/a/equalaccessrule?contactdata=a5UD0pWMKOadFopLx3Nib62tBjdqsucPozto1elpl%2fEW30%2fOmR3oSgzMVVLxpaRFcJJueczJlfUQjCvspi4XahaDcJ%2fRm%2fV0hxtYJarqGSY8jmak6w0K%2f80vBQeljWQ8saabIpb9BWoqJP3Tu9w2O87DIKaYcdm4iEjze1HJvcb+U3Gu+RT%2ffgHu1o1ls+MQjTXd4AW5E+9xM3XiarLN0g%3d%3d&emci=00ee2e17-9a5a-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=eec502c6-3b5c-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=196865.
In addition to these developments at the federal level, PROMO is urging individuals to stay aware of state developments. Governor Mike Kehoe announced in May that Missourians will vote on Amendment 3 this coming November.
In 2024, Missouri became the first state in the nation to overturn a total abortion ban through a citizen-led ballot measure. This year, the legislature is placing Amendment 3 before voters again, which will re-ban abortion and introduce a first-in-the-nation constitutional ban on healthcare for transgender young people.
Missouri families have the right to information and support for the healthcare their children need, whether they are transgender or not, to navigate those conversations safely and constructively.
"Discussions around reproductive freedom and healthcare are deeply personal, and we see this same parallel with healthcare for transgender Missourians," said Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director for of PROMO. "We knock on thousands of doors each week and neighbors are quick to tell us that they want every Missourian to be able to make decisions about their own body for themselves without government interference. They are able to connect with families of trans young people, trans adults, and the people who love them because they hold the same value as they do — we all want safe and healthy families."
How to Take Action: Education and neighbor-to-neighbor conversations are the most effective ways to build understanding around these issues. Please sign up to volunteer with PROMO here: https://www.mobilize.us/promomissouri/?emci=8e95d4d1-ec59-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=add29924-245a-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=14551663
