Kansas passes bill defining gender as biological sex

The Kansas House of Representatives voted yesterday to override Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill that defines gender as a person’s biological sex at birth, requires Kansans to use restrooms in public buildings that align with their true sex, and mandates that driver’s licenses and birth certificates must reflect a person’s true sex.

The House voted 87 to 37 to override the veto and approve SB 244, with every Democratic lawmaker and one Republican voting against the bill, the Kansas Reflector reported. The Senate passed the bill Feb. 17.

According to the bill’s summary, individuals who use single-sex facilities that do not correspond with their true sex are liable for criminal and civil penalties. The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas stated that facilities include restrooms, hospital rooms, dorm rooms, domestic violence shelters, and more, while the consequences of violating the law include a civil penalty of $1,000 and a Class B misdemeanor criminal charge for repeat offenses. 

The bill also directs the state to invalidate and reissue driver’s licenses if the gender identification does not match a person’s true sex, and gave a similar order regarding birth certificates that have been changed to align with a person’s gender identity.

Kelly issued a statement after her veto was overridden, saying that the bill has “significant, far-reaching consequences” and will cost Kansans millions to comply with its requirements.

“It is nothing short of ridiculous that the Legislature is forcing the entire state, every city and town, every school district, every public university to spend taxpayer money on a manufactured problem,” she said. “Kansans elected them to focus on education, job creation, housing, and grocery costs.”

According to the Kansas Reflector, Democrat lawmakers opposed the bill on the grounds that it discriminated against “transgender” Kansans, promoted hate, and codified “societal norms.” 

“We used to also have a law that women were subjugated to pregnancy and marriage because that was considered the societal norm,” Democratic Rep. Alexis Simmons said. “Societal norms also would have included slavery and Jim Crow and other horrific stains on our nation’s history.”

Republican lawmakers supported the legislation, saying that it protects women and their spaces across the state.

“Our young women deserve to have restrooms and locker rooms where they can undress without men in the room,” Republican Rep. Carolyn Caiharr stated, according to the outlet. “This bill protects girls and women, the ones feminists used to claim to stand for.”