TOPEKA, Kan. — Both Republicans and Democrats in Kansas recognize that economic concerns significantly influenced voter support for President Donald Trump, who garnered a 16% advantage over his opponents in that regard. Lawmakers have also noted that advertisements from Trump and others that targeted transgender rights resonated deeply with the electorate. While Kansas Republicans prioritize property tax reductions, they are simultaneously advocating for the prohibition of gender-affirming healthcare for minors, which includes treatments like puberty blockers and hormone therapies, as well as surgeries that are seldom performed on young people. They believe that these measures strongly appeal to voters.
“It evokes a much stronger emotional response,” stated Republican state representative Ron Bryce, a medical professional from southeastern Kansas. “We’re focusing on children and our future.” As state legislatures reconvene, the Republican Party is emboldened by recent electoral victories, compelling them to persist in advancing various bills aimed at limiting transgender rights at the state level. Similar to 2023 and 2024, numerous proposals are currently pending across mostly Republican-led legislatures, addressing issues such as restroom access for transgender individuals, the recognition of gender identity on driver’s licenses, and participation of transgender girls in female sports teams. In Texas alone, over 30 bills have been introduced by Republican lawmakers.
On the other hand, Democrats are confronting potential voter backlash while attempting to maintain their stance on what they define as a civil rights issue. Kansas Democratic state representative John Carmichael commented on the challenge of asserting that voters in Kansas favor transgender rights, especially following Republican gains in three state House seats and two state Senate seats. With an increase in Republican representation, the party believes that it can successfully implement a ban on gender-affirming care for youth this year, overcoming previous attempts that were thwarted by a veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly.
“Transgender individuals are going to face discrimination on a national level for the next four years,” Carmichael remarked. He expressed concern that some colleagues in the Kansas Legislature may seek to exceed even the measures introduced during Trump’s administration. Upon assuming office, Trump made anti-transgender sentiments a focal point of his campaign, enacting executive orders on his first day that mandated the federal government to recognize only two genders: male and female. His directives included segregating federal prisons and shelters for migrants and survivors of sexual assault based on these definitions and prohibiting federal funding for transition-related services, a policy that could impact incarcerated individuals.
Approximately 300,000 youths aged 13 to 17—about 1.4% of that demographic—are estimated to be transgender, according to data from the Williams Institute, an LGBTQ+ research organization. Among adults 18 and older, the proportion is about 0.5%, translating to about 1.3 million transgender Americans. At the state level, many legislators are anticipating a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that may legitimize bans on gender-affirming healthcare, given that the court recently reviewed a Tennessee law that forbids such care for minors. Legal experts suggest that the justices might be inclined to uphold this law, although a decision is expected by summer’s end.
Polls from AP VoteCast have indicated that nearly half of voters in the upcoming 2024 election feel that support for transgender rights in society and government has exceeded reasonable boundaries. Meanwhile, around 20% believe the current level of support is appropriate, and a similar percentage believes it does not go far enough. In relation to specific proposals, slightly more than half of voters opposed laws banning gender-affirming medical treatments for transgender minors, while just under half supported the legislation.
Presently, at least 26 states have enacted bans or restrictions on gender-affirming care for individuals under 18 years old. Harleigh Walker, a 17-year-old transgender high school senior in Alabama—where such care is prohibited—expressed disbelief that legislation harming constituents is being considered. She indicated that her family may contemplate relocating out of the South, and she herself is considering universities elsewhere. “We’re not causing anyone harm,” Walker stated in a phone interview. “Our right to exist and access to healthcare, as well as our use of public facilities, doesn’t hurt anyone.”
Leading medical associations, including the American Medical Association, have voiced opposition to these bans, affirming that gender-affirming treatments can be crucial and are backed by substantial evidence. Advocates claim that such care helps alleviate depression and suicidal thoughts among transgender youth. Conversely, opponents often argue that these treatments carry potential risks. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins stated that lawmakers aim to safeguard young individuals, suggesting that those under 18 lack the proper understanding and maturity to make decisions with lifelong consequences.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights are apprehensive that future restrictions may extend to adult care, following Florida’s recent actions to implement such limits; similar proposals have emerged in other states. Mo Jenkins, a transgender woman who previously campaigned for a Texas House seat, fears the implications of these developments. “It was never going to stop with children,” she remarked.
On the political front, Democrats are contemplating how to approach civil rights issues in the face of historical advertisements by Trump that targeted their presidential nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, as being in support of non-binary identities while branding Trump as representative of mainstream values. Kansas state Senator Cindy Holscher, who focused her reelection campaign on education and tax policies, achieved 61% of the vote in affluent suburbs of Kansas City. “There’s a tendency among Democrats to lean on social issues, but they may not equate to winning platforms,” she stated.
Despite these considerations, Holscher, Carmichael, and other Democratic lawmakers assert their commitment to opposing measures that restrict transgender rights. “Civil rights are intrinsic to the Democratic Party’s mission,” stated Joan Wagnon, a former chair of the Kansas Democratic Party and Topeka’s ex-mayor.
