Anti-LGBTQ bills in Missouri express the beliefs of conservative Christians
There are many anti-LGBTQ bills in Missouri. I’m using the ACLU list. Although the focus of most bills are to restrict and harm transgender people, this is a step along the way of targeting all LGBTQ people.
Beacon KC has been covering the issue.
National groups focus on Missouri to limit transgender rights (kcbeacon.org)
Curious as to who’s sponsoring anti-LGBTQ laws in Missouri, I decided to find out for myself. I start with the lawmakers who have the most bills sponsored. I’m linking Wikipedia (or Ballotpedia) articles to the names and including archived links to official bios. I focus on their leadership of religious institutions, education, and current religious associations. After my original post, I am only updating totals. I don’t plan to add more bios.
As of April 11, 2024:
22 lawmakers have sponsored 35 anti-LGBTQ bills in the Missouri legislature.
94.3% (33/35) of the bills are sponsored by men.
Almost all sponsoring lawmakers are Christian and Republican. 2 did not have a clear declaration on their official bio or on campaign sites.
Most are evangelical Christian but 2 are explicitly Catholic.
A third (36%) have active leadership roles in their church: pastor, deacon, chaplain, lay minister, etc.
Other issues important to these lawmakers are creationism/ intelligent design in schools, opposition to abortion, opposition to gun control, and opposition to vaccines, opposition to library funding and Medicaid expansion, as well as support for Trump.
Brad Hudson (R) - 4
From his MO House of Reps bio: “Hudson is the pastor to the congregation at Blessing Heights Worship Center.” He “received a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies from the Midwest College of Theology in 2011.”
Michael Moon (R) - 4
From his MO Senate bio: “He is an active member of High Street Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and serves on mission committees.” In addition to attending Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO, "Moon received his bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Southwest Missouri State University in 1985."
Ben Baker (R) - 3
From his MO House of Reps bio: "Baker is a lay minister, missionary, former professor and former dean of students at Ozark Bible Institute in Neosho [where he also got his BA Arts]. "Baker is a past church board member, and also a past board president of Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center. He is also involved with Ozark Christian Missions and has led mission trips to India, Africa, and Central America."
Rick Brattin (R) - 3
From his MO Senate bio: “He and his family are devoted Christians and members of Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit.” His Wikipedia page includes his support for Intelligent Design (religious Creationism) in textbooks, and statements on abortion and homosexuality".
Adam Schnelting (R) - 2
From his MO House bio: “Schnelting is a Realtor and Minister […] Schnelting attended State Fair Community College, Oklahoma Wesleyan University and Rhema Bible College. He obtained his degree in Christian Ministry from Oklahoma Wesleyan University and also has a degree in Political Science.”
Doug Richey (R) - 2
From his MO House bio: “Richey is a pastor, law enforcement chaplain and adjunct professor. […] After obtaining an undergraduate degree from the University of Central Missouri, Richey earned three master’s degrees and a doctorate from the Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS).”
Travis Fitzwater (R) - 2 - Billsheet(s): education, lgbtq
From his MO Senate bio: “He has spent his life outside the Capitol serving God and community, working in college ministry, serving thousands in nonprofit management, investing in real estate and starting small companies while also administering his wife’s counseling business.
He graduated from Presbyterian College in South Carolina with a bachelor’s degree in political science with an emphasis on international relations. Travis has also attained a master’s degree in Atlantic history and politics from the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri.” His Twitter bio says “Jesus follower and homeschooler…”
Brian Seitz (R) - 1
From his MO House bio: “Seitz has served as the pastor of Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Branson for 12 years […] He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Southwest Missouri State University in 1990.
Chris Lonsdale (R) - 1 - education
His MO House bio is blank. His X aka Twitter bio say’s he’s Catholic. From his Ballotpedia bio (sourced from Facebook and LinkedIn): Lonsdale graduated from Liberty High School in 2014. He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2018.”
Cody Smith (R) - 1
Hardy Billington (R)
From his MO House bio: “Billington graduated from the Basic Institute of Technology.[…] attend[s] Faith Baptist Church, where Billington is a deacon.”
Jamie Burger (R) - 1
From his MO House bio: Burger “is now a member of St. Denis Catholic Church in Benton, where he serves as Lector and [extraordinary] Eucharistic Minister.
Jamie Gragg (R) - 1
Justin Sparks (R) - 1
Mark Matthiesen (R) - 1
Mitch Boggs (R) - 1
Andrew Koenig (R) - 1
From his MO Senate bio: “Koenig and his family attend West County Assembly of God.” Education: “Koenig received a B.A. in Business Administration from Lindenwood University in 2005.” His Wikipedia page notes his involvement in promoting religious creationism in public schools.
Denny Hoskins (R) - 1
From his MO Senate page: Hoskins graduated from Central Missouri State University. According to his campaign page for MO Secretary of State, He attends Northside Christian Church in Warrensburg.
Holly Thompson Rehder (R) - 1
From her MO Senate bio: “Rehder is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University, with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, with her emphasis in public relations.“ It also says that she attends “Life Church in Sikeston, Missouri.”
Jill Carter (R) - 1
From her MO Senate bio: She is a “graduate of East Newton High School and Crowder College. From her Facebook campaign page, she presents as Christian.
Nick Shroer (R) - 1
From his MO Senate bio: Shroer “graduated from Trinity Catholic High School in 2004, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and received his Juris Doctor degree from the Southern Illinois University School of Law in 2013.” His campaign page specifies that his opposition to abortion is rooted in his Christian beliefs.
Rusty Black (R) - 1