Governor Kelly’s Veto of SB 233 Sustained 

Kansas legislature’s attempt to push through one of the most extreme and broad attacks on trans youth in the country will not become law

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 29, 2024

CONTACT:
Esmie Tseng, Communications Director, ACLU of Kansas, etseng@aclukansas.org
Taryn Jones, Policy Director, Equality Kansas, vicechair@eqks.org
Rabbi Moti Rieber, Executive Director, Kansas Interfaith Action, mrieber@kansasinterfaithaction.org
Wulf Roby, Director of Communications, Loud Light Civic Action, wulf@loudlight.org
Michael Poppa, Executive Director, Mainstream, michael@mainstream.vote
Hanna Sumpter, Director of Communications & Marketing, PPGP Votes, hanna.sumpter@ppgreatplains.org
Merrique Jenson, President, Founder & Executive Director, Transformations, transformationskc@gmail.com

TOPEKA, KAN. – Kansas legislators sustained Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of SB 233, a bill that, had it passed, could have been one of the most extreme anti-transgender laws in the country. While transgender and non-binary individuals in Kansas still face significant challenges in accessing gender-affirming healthcare, SB 233 would have exacerbated this inequality, particularly for those who are already marginalized within the transgender community. 

SB 233 was passed by the legislature in March and would have banned access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth. In addition to the intrusion into Kansas families’ medical decisions, the bill’s broad and vaguely written language could have been used to target certain state employees who support trans youth, such as teachers, social workers, or counselors. Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the bill in early April ahead of the legislature’s return this week for veto session. 

Statewide organizations including the ACLU of Kansas, Equality Kansas, Kansas Interfaith Action, Loud Light Civic Action, Mainstream, Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, Trust Women Foundation, and Transformations have repeatedly spoken out to condemn this legislation, citing SB233’s extreme reach, vague language, and potential unintended consequences against medical professionals, teachers, social workers, and other state employees in addition to unknown consequences for Kansas’s transgender youth and their families. 

At least 2,000 Kansas parents, youths, medical and mental health providers, faith leaders, teachers, social workers, state employees and others asked their legislators to oppose this bill. Legislative opposition testimony was submitted by more than 230 Kansans, and dozens of youth had in-person meetings with their elected officials. Still more voices were heard through an open letter signed by 100 Kansas educators, one signed by clergy, and one signed by 200 healthcare providers. 

Today, those voices were heard. We recognize that there is more work to be done to address health disparities, housing insecurity, and Kansans’ struggles to meet basic needs, for people of color, minors without supportive guardians, rural folks, immigrants, those with disabilities, the transgender community and others who experience marginalization in various forms.

This press release is available online here.

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The ACLU of Kansas is the statewide affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU of Kansas is dedicated to preserving and advancing the civil rights and legal freedoms guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights. For more information, visit our website at www.aclukansas.org.

Equality Kansas was established in October 2005. Originally formed by the merger of independent LGBT advocacy groups in Topeka, Manhattan, and Wichita, Equality Kansas is a chapter-based grassroots organization. Our mission is to end discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We work towards our mission through education, public policy advocacy, and political action. More at eqks.org.

Kansas Interfaith Action is a statewide, multifaith issue–advocacy organization that “puts faith into action” by educating, engaging and advocating on behalf of people of faith and the public regarding critical social, economic, and climate justice issues. KIFA supporters are shaped by the values of our diverse faiths, which connect us to an age–old concern for justice, peace, and human dignity. Rooted in faith, we join hands across differences to work for moral public policy in Kansas. Learn more at kansasinterfaithaction.org.

Loud Light Civic Action engages, educates, and empowers individuals from underrepresented populations to build community power that has an impact on decision makers. We’re Transforming Kansas through increasing youth civic engagement, protecting and expanding the right to vote, and increasing government transparency. Learn more at loudlightaction.org.

Mainstream is dedicated to creating a more representative and responsive government by empowering informed participation and meaningful action in the political process. We envision a Kansas political system that represents all of its constituents. Learn more at: https://www.mainstreamcoalition.org/

Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes is an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. We lobby state lawmakers, mobilize more than 120,000 grassroots supporters, and engage in issue education in order to protect and expand access to health care and comprehensive sex education in the communities we serve, and to promote Planned Parenthood’s mission. Learn more at PPGPvotes.org.

Transformations is a non-profit organization operating in Kansas City and led by trans women of color. The organization is dedicated to promoting healing, developing leaders, and building capacity within trans communities of color across Missouri, Kansas, and the Northwest Arkansas (Ozark) region. Transformations supports mutual aid work and collective organizing across Kansas. The organization hosts two annual programs: “The Dolls Are Thriving”, a national summit for trans women of color, and “Liberation Camp”, a leadership camp in the Ozarks for trans leaders of color. Learn more at transformationskc.org, dollsarethriving.org and liberationcamp.org.