In a big move, Kansas Republicans overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s initial veto of SB 244, which would require government buildings, including schools and universities, to segregate bathrooms and locker rooms by biological sex. Additionally, this law also bans changing gender on driver’s licenses and birth certificates, with fines or lawsuits for violations.
Supporters, like Senate President Ty Masterson, argued that the override restores common sense and protects women. Critics, including transgender state Rep. Abi Boatman, claim that SB 244 discriminates and endangers lives by being so discriminatory. Nevertheless, it has been passed over the governor’s veto.
Explaining the situation, Senate President Ty Masterson (R) said that the override had “restored sanity,” adding that Kelly’s veto “would have forced our mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters to share their bathrooms with biological men in government buildings.” “Kansas Democrats are for They/Them,” Masterson joked, promising, “I will continue to fight for you, and protect women and girls across our state.” This comment highlights the absurdity of the governor of Kansas’ claims.
Fearing the initial bill, Democrat state transgender Rep. Abi Boatman claimed that the law “obviously discriminates against transgender people in ways that make our lives exponentially more difficult and dangerous.” Responding to the bill, Gov. Laura Kelly stated that it was “poorly drafted” and “will have numerous and significant consequences far beyond the intent to limit the right of trans people to use the appropriate bathroom.”
“Under this bill: If your grandfather is in a nursing home in a shared room, as a granddaughter, you would not be able to visit him. If your wife is in a shared hospital room, as a husband, you would not be able to visit her,” the Democrat alleged, “If your sister is living in a dorm at K-State, as a brother, you would not be able to visit her in her room.”
Continuing to miss the point, she added, “If you feel you have to accompany your nine-year-old daughter to the restroom at a sporting event, as a father, you would have to either enter the women’s restroom with her or let her use the restroom alone.”
Firing back, State Sen. Kellie Warren (R) explained that all of the governor’s examples in her veto message are “not the subject of the bill.” Warrned clarified that the subject of the bill is “restrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, shower rooms or other rooms that are specifically designed or designated by the government for people to change and be in a state of undress.”
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Losing her mind, the Governor reacted, “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. Kansans elected them to focus on education, job creation, housing, and grocery costs.”
Micah Kubic, who included his pronouns as part of his comments, the Executive Director of the ACLU of Kansas, asserted, “This discriminatory bill undermines our state’s strong constitutional protections against government overreach and persecution. It subjects people to unacceptable privacy violations and puts them in harm’s way. Transgender Kansas should have protection and dignity in our state instead of persecution.”
Watch local media report on the big move here: