Kansas Governor Defies Analysis, Allows Gender Marker Changes for Trans Residents
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Revenue (KDOR) will not change their policies for gender markers on birth certificates or driver's licenses, despite Attorney General Kris Kobach's legal opinion stating that documents must reflect sex at birth in accordance with a new law starting July 1. Governor Laura Kelly has directed the agencies to follow their legal counsel's interpretation of the law, disagreeing with the Attorney General's conclusions. KDHE's current policy allows transgender individuals to obtain birth certificates affirming their gender identity, and KDOR believes its current driver's license policy does not conflict with the new law.