TOPEKA — For the third year in a row, Gov. Laura Kelly has vetoed a model bill that would have barred transgender girls from playing college sports with cisgender girls.
The Democratic governor mentioned Friday that the annual crackdown on transgender students sends “a signal to future providers that Kansas is much more focused on unnecessary, divisive laws than on becoming a location exactly where young persons want to function and raise households.”
“Let’s be clear about what this bill is about – policy,” Kelly mentioned. “It will not boost test scores.” It will not assistance any young children to study or create. It will not assistance any teacher prepare our young children for the true planet. Here’s what this bill would essentially do: harm the mental well being of our students. That is precisely why Republican governors have joined me in vetoing equivalent legislation.”
Residence Bill 2238 would call for kindergarten-age young children to participate in college activities primarily based on the gender they had been assigned at birth. Challenges could potentially expose them to genital inspections.
The Kansas State Higher College Activities Association announced earlier this year that the law would apply to around two student-athletes in Kansas schools.
Republicans have supermajorities in each chambers, but it remains unclear regardless of whether they have the 84 votes necessary to override a Residence veto. 1 Democrat joined Residence Republicans in passing the bill by an 82-40 margin on February 23. Senate Republicans, who will need just 27 votes to override a veto, passed the bill by a 28-11 margin on March 9.
Debates this year mirrored previous discussions about transgender athletes. Parliament adopted equivalent laws in 2021 and 2022.
Republicans argue the law is essential to shield girls from losing scholarship possibilities or sharing locker rooms with boys, and frequently use speaking points raised by the anti-LGBTQ hate groups that made the bill.
When the governor was campaigning for re-election final year, she acknowledged that guys must not compete in women’s sports. But Republicans have refused to recognize the distinction among transgender guys and transgender ladies.
“It really is clear that candidate Kelly is gone and Governor Kelly is back,” mentioned Residence Speaker Dan Hawkins, a Wichita Republican. “Now that he no longer has to face the voters, the governor has accomplished yet another about-face. The Women’s Sports Equity Act passed the Kansas Residence and Senate with broad assistance to shield the rights of female athletes in the state by requiring that women’s athletic teams include things like only members who are biologically female. This is popular sense. Residence Republicans will make just about every work to override this veto.
This improvement story will be updated.