Gender-affirming care for transgender youths won’t be banned this year after Kansas lawmakers narrowly failed to override Governor Laura Kelly’s veto. Senate Bill 233 would have banned gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapy for transgender youths, and some people also interpreted the language to effectively prohibit social transitioning. While the Senate had the two-thirds majority it needed to override, the House fell two votes short. Governor Kelly called the vote a big win for parental rights, Kansas families and for families looking to call Kansas home.
Several lawmakers cited that the bill goes too far in restricting mental and behavioral health care for children, which is much needed in these cases. Also, no other state has prohibited providers’ speech, and that consideration must be given to children currently undergoing treatment.
