Kansas Lawmakers Face Backlash for Mishandling Anti-Transgender Legislation

The drafting of an anti-transgender law in Kansas aimed at preventing gender marker changes on driver's licenses was botched, according to a state agency's lawyer. The law, which conflicts with another law governing driver's licenses, took effect on July 1. Despite the new law, Democratic Governor Laura Kelly announced that Kansas would continue to change transgender people's driver's licenses to reflect their gender identities. Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a lawsuit against the Department of Revenue in an attempt to prevent such changes. A judge issued an order to temporarily stop the changes, but the state agency is seeking to have the order rescinded. The Department of Revenue has reported that over 500 people have changed their gender markers on their licenses since July 2019.