Show-Me State Times

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey issued a statement following the announcement that the St. Louis pediatric transgender clinic at Washington University is shutting down.

“This is a huge win for the rule of law and for the safety of our children,” said Attorney General Bailey. “As a father of four and as Attorney General, I want Missouri to be the safest state in the nation for children. The closure of any clinic who has mutilated children is a major step towards that goal. I will not stop until the clandestine network of clinics mutilating children is permanently dismantled and bad actors are held accountable.”

General Bailey initiated an investigation into the pediatric transgender center in 2023 after a whistleblower alleged that the center used experimental drugs on children, distributed puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones without individualized assessment, and pressured parents into “consenting” to these treatments. According to a sworn affidavit by the whistleblower, these actions have led some children to attempt suicide, and despite harmful effects, the Center continued prescribing cross-sex hormones. The whistleblower also provided documentary evidence suggesting unlawful billing practices involving state taxpayers.

The pediatric transgender center ceased providing gender transition interventions to minors in September, shortly after Attorney General Bailey successfully defended Missouri’s bill banning such procedures in court. With this court victory, Missouri became the first state to defend at trial level a law barring child mutilation. Despite this development, Attorney General Bailey's investigation into the clinic remains ongoing.

Bailey is currently engaged in legal efforts to compel the clinic to release documents. His office has won all three lawsuits aimed at forcing other clinics to comply with subpoenas.