Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoes bills on gender-affirming care and abortion reporting
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed a proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors, a bill requiring more reporting from abortion providers, and a vague bill on coercing someone into having an abortion, setting up confrontations with the Republican-supermajority Legislature. The state constitution protects abortion rights and a recent vote affirmed that position. Kelly allowed a GOP proposal on verifying adult visitors to pornography websites to become law without her signature. The vetoed bill against gender-affirming care targeted a small group and trampled parental rights. Supporters argued it would protect children from possibly dangerous treatments, but health care groups recommend such care for transgender children.
Key Points
- Governor Laura Kelly vetoed bills on gender-affirming care for minors and more reporting from abortion providers
- Kansas has been an outlier on abortion due to state constitution protections
- GOP lawmakers in Kansas have rolled back transgender rights despite national trends
- Major health care groups recommend gender-affirming care for transgender children
Pros
- Protecting transgender rights and parental rights
- Upholding recommendations of major health care organizations
- Respecting individual medical decisions
Cons
- Possible confrontations with the Republican-supermajority Legislature
- Disagreement on the need for reporting from abortion providers
- Concerns about the impact of the vetoed bills on children's health