2/17/2017 – This week, the Mayor of St. Louis City signed into law an ordinance declaring as illegal employment and housing discrimination based upon reproductive health decisions and pregnancy status, including childbirth and related medical conditions. The law prevents employers, landlords, banks, and others from discriminating against those individuals who chose to get an abortion or chose to use birth control. The law does provide that religious institutions or other organizations with historic religious affiliation are not required to provide reproductive health services or provide health insurance coverage for those services.
St. Louis City is only the fourth jurisdiction in the United States to pass a similar law. The other jurisdictions are: Boston, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. The law applies only in the City of St. Louis. It does not affect employers or property owners in the adjoining St. Louis County or other nearby counties.
UPDATED — On June 15, 2017, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill to overturn the St. Louis City ordinance. The state bill goes into effect on August 28, 2017.