A law that would have prohibited gender-affirming care for kids in the Sunflower State was vetoed by Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) on Friday.
“This divisive legislation targets a small group of Kansans by placing government mandates on them and dictating to parents how to best raise and care for their children,” In a veto message Friday Kelly stated. “I do not believe that is a conservative value, and it’s certainly not a Kansas value.”
Human Rights Campaign’s senior director of legal policy, Cathryn Oakley, commended Kelly’s veto in a press release. Kelly is an advocate for LGBTQ rights.
The group, according to her, is nevertheless “to thank Governor Kelly for seeing bills like SB 233 for what they really are: dangerous misinformation and attempts to target vulnerable youth for the sole purpose of riling up anti-LGBTQ+ extremists.”
“If any legislation seeks to ban best practice, medically necessary health care for no purpose other than the person receiving that care is transgender, that is discrimination – plain and simple,” Oakley stated. “Doctors, patients, and families – not politicians – should be making health care decisions.”
