The failure to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly‘s veto of a bill banning gender-affirming care for minors in Kansas marks a remarkable victory for transgender rights advocates.
While the Republican-controlled Senate successfully voted to override the veto, the state House fell just two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to enact the ban.
Governor Laura Kelly (Credits: CNN)
Had the bill passed, it would have prohibited gender-affirming care for trans and nonbinary youth in Kansas, including hormone therapies, puberty blockers, and surgeries.
The measure would have also allowed civil lawsuits against doctors providing such care to minors and barred the use of state funds for gender-affirming treatments.
Gov. Kelly praised the legislature’s decision to sustain her veto, emphasizing that divisive bills like this have no place in Kansas and highlighting the importance of protecting parental rights and the well-being of Kansas families.
Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (Credits: Kansas City Star)
Transgender rights advocates celebrated the outcome, calling it a victory for transgender kids, their families, and allies across the state. They emphasized the strength, resilience, and solidarity shown by the transgender community and its supporters throughout the legislative process.
This victory comes in comparism to a similar bill last year, where the veto override attempt failed in the state House. However, last year, the Republican-controlled Legislature successfully enacted an anti-trans sports ban despite the governor’s veto, highlighting ongoing battles over LGBTQ+ rights in Kansas.
