Kansas Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, sparking a clash with Republican state lawmakers. The bill now returns to the state Legislature, where the GOP majority is expected to override the governor's veto during a session on April 29.
Last year, Gov. Kelly vetoed a similar bill that targeted physicians providing gender-affirming care to minors. This time, the state Senate passed the bill with a veto-proof majority, while the House fell two votes short due to absences. Two absent Republican representatives who previously supported the bill could tip the scales.
Kansas Democrats criticize the bill as an encroachment on transgender rights, while Republicans argue it safeguards children. This mirrors the national discourse on transgender issues. With this legislation, Kansas joins over 20 states restricting gender-affirming care for minors amid the growing prominence of transgender rights in the Republican Party.
