News & Commentary

The Kansas Legislature voted to override the Democratic governor's veto of a bill that bans transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports from kindergarten through college. It is the latest push of several anti-trans bills introduced by Republican legislators in the state.

"The sports ban has never sincerely been about protecting women's sports," said Micah Kubic, the executive director of the ACLU of Kansas. "Rather, it arises out of the same gender discrimination, stereotyping, and paternalism that has held back progress for cisgender women athletes for centuries."

Chloe Chaffin, program lead for Loud Light and the chapter president of Washburn Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, and Leslie Butsh, field director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, discuss the state of reproductive rights this legislative session.

“[...T]hey weren’t going to say, ‘OK, you know, we tried it. And it’s clear that Kansans feel this particular way. And now we’re just going to respect that and leave it on the table.’ We knew that they were going to come back and continue to try to chip away at abortion rights," Leslie Butsch said.

Aileen Berquist, policy director for the ACLU of Kansas, said the organization was adamantly opposed to House Bill 2313 because it would insert politicians into the private medical decisions of individuals and families.

The ACLU of Kansas recently released a poll that found 70% of Kansans want elected officials to focus on making it easier to vote, not harder. That included almost half — 47% — of Republicans. Allowing curbside voting at polling locations and increasing the number of polling locations in Kansas.

Republican Secretary of State Ron Thorburgh launched the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck; Kobach expanded the program. Kansas suspended the program in 2019 as part of a settlement with the ACLU of Kansas, which had sued on behalf of voters whose partial Social Security numbers were exposed.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas released a poll on voting rights Friday. The civil rights advocacy group found that 70% of Kansans support measures to make voting easier, rather than adding additional restrictions.

Across the ideological spectrum, numerous Kansas organizations and impacted citizens have come together on the problem of financially devastating our state’s minors and working families — and together, we’re calling on our lawmakers to move swiftly to correct it.