On Friday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a bill for the third year in a row that would have banned transgender athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports. The bill had been a key issue for Kansas Republicans, who have made Kelly’s previous vetoes a major campaign issue. If overridden, Kansas would join 18 other states that have enacted similar legislation.
The governor cited concerns about the bill’s impact on student mental health and the state’s business recruitment efforts. She also argued that the state association responsible for student activities in middle and high schools should handle the issue, rather than lawmakers. Taryn Jones, a lobbyist for the LGBTQ-rights group Equality Kansas, called the bill “unnecessary” and accused supporters of discrimination against the transgender community.
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Republican lawmakers have argued that banning transgender athletes from girls’ and women’s sports will preserve fair competition and opportunities for girls and young women. However, Kansas officials and LGBTQ-rights advocates say that only a few young transgender people participate in high school activities, and possibly only one transgender Kansas girl is on a sports team. Backers of the bill argue that the state should act before transgender athletes become more prevalent.
Kansas Republicans have also proposed bills aimed at banning gender-affirming care for minors and preventing transgender men and women from using bathrooms, locker rooms, and other facilities associated with their gender identities. The state Senate has passed a bill to revoke the medical licenses of doctors providing puberty-blocking drugs, hormone therapy, or surgery for transgender minors, while another Senate-passed bill would define male and female in Kansas law based on a person’s anatomy at birth.
Governor Kelly’s veto sets up a contentious fight in the Republican-controlled Legislature to override her. While supporters have more than the two-thirds majorities needed in both chambers to override a veto, a few GOP moderates voted against overriding Kelly in 2021 and 2022. However, the House and Senate votes on this year’s bill suggest supporters could have just enough votes to prevail.
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