Kansas GOP Bill Authorizes Genital Exams of Schoolchildren, Critics Say
to be deeply polarizing issues. Some say transgender women should be treated like other women, while others say they are different and that hard-won women's rights must be protected.In the U.S., a 2022 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 38 percent of Americans believe society had gone too far in accepting transgender people, while 36 percent said it had not gone far enough.HB 2238 was enacted into law on Wednesday after Republicans in the state legislature overrode the veto by 84 to 40 in the House and 28 to 12 in the Senate.The law, which will take effect on July 1, prohibits biologically male students from participating as women or girls in sports, either in teams or female categories.
However, it allows for mixed teams and for female students to participate in men's sporting events.A statement by House leadership, provided by House Majority Leader Chris Croft, said the law "protects the rights of female athletes in the state," adding that GOP lawmakers "proudly stand with the female athletes across Kansas in their pursuit of athletic awards, opportunities, and scholarships."When vetoing the bill, Kelly had said: "Let's be clear about what this bill is all about—politics.
It won't help any kids read or write," instead claiming it would: "Harm the mental health of our students." She noted that other Republican governors had vetoed similar bills.While some studies suggest that poor mental health among transgender people is linked to feelings of unhappiness with their physical appearance, others have indicated the rise in young people exhibiting gender dysphoria might be in part a product of wider mental health issues.During a February session on the bill in February, Republican Representative Barbara Wasinger,.
