News & Commentary

“This bill places politicians’ feelings above the expert medical advice of hundreds of thousands of doctors, and strips patients and families of their ability to make informed healthcare decisions,” the ACLU of Kansas said in a letter to the Senate in opposition of the bill in February.

Scientific and legal interpretations of these words have evolved considerably in the past century. Today, medical experts understand biological sex assigned at birth as more complex and consider it distinct from gender identity.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas announced Thursday that it was appealing a judge’s order blocking Kansas’ Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s administration from allowing transgender people to change the sex listed on their license.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas announced Thursday that it was appealing a judge’s order blocking Kansas’ Democratic Governor Laura Kelly’s administration from allowing transgender people to change the sex listed on their license.

Training session in Lawrence to educate about LGBTQ+ storytelling – The Lawrence Times“Free speech and expression, especially political protest, are fundamental to our democracy, and police cannot have the power to selectively arrest anyone for speech they disagree with or are angered by. We are glad to see the Court agreed,” Legal Director Sharon Brett said in an email statement.

Senate Bill 233 bans health care professionals from using surgery or puberty blockers to treat transgender children. Despite Republican lawmakers’ claims that puberty blockers and hormone therapy are unsafe, the same therapy will be allowed for cisgender children.

Kansas Republicans advanced a sweeping bill Tuesday banning hormone therapy and gender transition surgeries in minors, the latest in a multi-year effort on the right to regulate the lives of transgender Kansans. Lawmakers will take a final vote on the bill Wednesday. It will then move to the Senate.

A Kansas judge ruled Monday that the state isn't violating transgender residents' rights under the state constitution by refusing to change their driver's licenses to reflect their gender identities.

Transgender Kansans will continue to be denied gender marker changes to their drivers licenses after a judge in Topeka sided with Attorney General Kris Kobach as Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson issued a ruling on Monday granting Kobach's request for a temporary injunction.