Trans teen, family ‘do not feel safe,’ plan to leave Missouri after anti-LGBTQ laws

A Kansas City family is looking for a new state to call home after Kansas and Missouri passed sweeping anti-LGBTQ bills this spring.

A GoFundMe page was launched Sunday to help the family of Avery Jackson, 16, move out of Missouri. At age 9, Jackson was the first known transgender individual to be pictured on the cover of National Geographic.

Last week, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed a law prohibiting people under the age of 18 from receiving gender-affirming care and a measure banning students from competing in sports that don’t match the gender on their birth certificate.

Kansas’ legislature overrode Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto to define a man and a woman based solely on their reproductive capabilities. In effect, it bars transgender and nonbinary people from accessing a broad range of single-sex places and services including specifically: prisons, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers and restrooms.

“For the last eight years, we have actively fought bills attacking the LGBTQ community in our home state, Missouri, and across the state line in Kansas where Avery was born,” Avery’s mom Debi Jackson posted on the fundraising page.

“Avery has also taken this advocacy work head-on, even facing invasive, inappropriate questions by a Senator during a committee hearing in a room full of strangers last year. The trauma inflicted by that event and the years of being literally targeted by elected officials, right-wing pundits, and the anti-equality community have taken a toll on Avery’s mental health. They need a fresh start.”

Over the years, Jackson said her family had discussed moving. But her two kids did not want to.

“Now both of them are ready to go,” she told The Star.

Another factor in their decision was the proliferation of firearms and gun violence in Kansas City. So far this year, 85 people have died in homicides in Kansas City, according to data tracked by The Star, which includes police shootings. Most of the homicides are a result of gun violence. The rate is outpacing 2020, which was the city’s deadliest year on record.

“We physically do not feel safe,” Jackson said.

The family is now exploring other states and even other countries to relocate to and getting their house ready to be listed. They hope to make a decision on where they will land in the next couple of weeks.

“We are purging and packing,” Jackson said.

“It’s a lot.”

Jackson said she will continue her work in advocacy regardless of where they end up.

“This move is for Avery’s peace of mind,” the fundraiser said.