Contact:

Luke Davis

Campaign Manager, Stephens for Missouri

(314) 651-3166

stephens4mo@gmail.com 

BILL STEPHENS REACTS TO SUPREME COURT DECISION AND THE BAN OF ABORTIONS IN MISSOURI

The State Representative candidate vows to fight to protect the right to choose

ST. LOUIS (June 24, 2022) — Bill Stephens, current 12th Ward Alderman for the City of St. Louis and State Representative candidate for the Missouri 81st District, released this statement today regarding the Supreme Court of the United States overturn of Roe v. Wade and Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s proclamation banning abortion in Missouri:

“Today, the Supreme Court of United States stripped millions of Americans of a basic human right — their right to an abortion, to their privacy, and to make, safe, informed, medical decisions about their bodies. As a result, and due to the “trigger-law” enacted by anti-choice extremists in the Missouri Legislature, one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country has gone into effect in our state within 15 minutes of this national decision. In the 81st District, our representation did next to nothing to stop this. 

We knew this decision was coming. In Missouri, we’ve been fighting for years to keep abortion safe, legal and accessible in our communities despite the never-ending onslaught of attacks from pro-life extremists in our state government. Nonetheless, the reality of waking up to the highest court in our country rolling back decades of settled precedent protecting the individual right to choose to have an abortion is deeply chilling and disturbing. 

To be clear, the right to abortion is not the only right the conservative Justices on the Supreme Court intend to take away from Americans. Justices Alito and Thomas are determined to use this precedent to rob us of the right to same-sex marriage established in Obergefell v. Hodges. When they come for one of our rights, they come for all of them. 

Now more than ever, we need elected leaders who will fight for our fundamental rights. In the 81st District, we have a State Representative who is openly opposed to the right to abortion. Representative Butz has repeatedly voiced opposition to Missourian’s right to choose. We need new leadership. We need a representative who will do everything in their power to protect our rights. I will be that representative. 

When you send me to Jefferson City, you will know that your State Representative believes in your right to access safe, legal abortion and is fighting alongside you every single day to protect that right.

I will not rest in this fight until all Missourians are guaranteed the fundamental freedom of access to abortion, a critical healthcare service and a basic human right.”

For more information about State Representative candidate Bill Stephens, visit stephens4mo.com.

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News Release

For Immediate Release

BILL STEPHENS ANNOUNCES HIS CAMPAIGN FOR MISSOURI STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The 12th Ward Alderman for the City of St. Louis looks to represent the 81st House District

Bill Stephens Headshot (left); Bill Stephens Files for Candidacy on March 7 (right)

ST. LOUIS (March 7, 2022) — Bill Stephens, current 12th Ward Alderman in the City of St. Louis, announced his candidacy for Missouri State Representative of the 81st District on Monday, March 7. He is challenging current Democratic Representative Steve Butz for his House seat representing the southern part of the City of St. Louis. The state district includes a majority of Stephens’ current 12th Ward with neighborhoods like Boulevard Heights while also including the Carondelet and Holly Hills neighborhoods along with parts of Mt. Pleasant and Dutchtown.

“During my time as 12th Ward Alderman, I’ve been focused on fighting the injustices and gaps that run deep throughout the city, which I’ve come to know firsthand during my years of public service,” said Stephens. “We’ve directed all our attention on what we can do to address the immediate problems, but not how we create sustainable solutions — we are fighting the symptoms rather than the illness. The reality is many of these issues Missouri faces cannot be handled on a local level alone. We need state and federal support, and the only way to ensure we have it is by having advocates for the people in every level of government.”

Born in St. Louis, Stephens was raised in both the southeastern village of Marquand, Missouri and the North County streets of Hazelwood, Missouri. He has held active and prominent roles in the St. Louis LGBTQIA+ community, from being a member of Growing American Youth, and eventually its youngest-ever board member, to becoming the Archivist and Library Coordinator for Pride St. Louis. As a public library professional specializing in youth services, Stephens saw daily the effects of unjust legal and social barriers on the lives of everyday citizens, which inspired him to run for political office in 2020. He now sets his eyes on continuing his career of public service at the state level advocating for much needed change.

“It is easy to say that representation matters, but as an openly gay male I’m only here because of others, both in St. Louis and across the country, that allowed me to see myself in public office,” added Stephens. “I’m excited at the chance to represent the queer community and the younger generation in Jefferson City, but I’m just as willing to take a step back when needed and elevate the voices our legislators need to hear the most when making policy decisions.”

For more information about State Representative candidate Bill Stephens, visit billzstephens.com. You can find a map of House District 81 here.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR REQUESTS FOR COMMENT, 

PLEASE CONTACT BILL STEPHENS DIRECTLY AT (314) 312-1255