Southeast Missourian: Letter: Proposed amendment isn't necessary and tramples on voters' wishes

By Cynthia Maher

Cynthia C. Maher urges a no vote on Amendment 3, questioning its provisions and criticizing lawmakers’ response to Missouri’s 2024 reproductive healthcare vote.

I’m confused. I have been receiving campaign literature on Amendment 3 saying a "Yes" vote will ban transgender surgery on minors. However, Gov. Mike Parson signed a ban on transgender surgeries on minors in 2023, and in January 2026 the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the ban.

If transgender procedures on minors is already illegal, why would the legislators put this issue in Amendment 3? Could it be to distract Missouri voters from realizing we already voted on Amendment 3 in 2024 where codifying women’s reproductive health care passed?

What’s even more confusing is that our elected officials rolled back what Missourians had already voted for. Vote "No" on Amendment 3 and tell the state legislators Missourians don’t approve of their repealing our votes.

Read more: https://www.semissourian.com/opinion/letter-to-the-editor-from-cynthia-c-maher-10-9-26-38530d17