Kansas has joined the ranks of states banning gender-affirming care for minors, becoming the 27th state to do so. The Republican-controlled Legislature successfully overrode the veto of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, pushing through the measure that prohibits gender-affirming care for youth under 19.
The new law, set to take effect this month, prohibits minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapies, or surgery to transition away from their gender assigned at birth. State employees caring for children are also barred from providing or encouraging such treatments, as well as discouraging social transitioning.
Supporters of the ban argue that it protects vulnerable children from what they perceive as a 'radical' ideology about gender and prevents them from making irreversible medical decisions at a young age. The votes to override Governor Kelly's veto were decisive, with an 85-34 margin in the House and a 31-9 margin in the Senate, reflecting the Republican supermajorities in both chambers.
Opponents of the ban, including advocacy groups for transgender rights, have expressed concern over the impact on transgender youth and their families. They have vowed to provide financial assistance and support to families seeking gender-affirming care outside of Kansas.
The swift passage of this legislation in Kansas comes on the heels of a similar federal order issued by former President Donald Trump, which prohibited federal support for gender-affirming care for minors. The contentious debate surrounding gender-affirming care continues to be a divisive issue in many states across the country.
