Kansas has joined the ranks of states banning gender-affirming care for minors, becoming the 27th state to do so. The Republican-controlled Legislature successfully overrode the veto of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly, pushing through the measure that prohibits gender-affirming care for youth under 19.
The new law, set to take effect this month, prohibits minors from receiving puberty blockers, hormone therapies, or surgery to transition away from their gender assigned at birth. State employees caring for children are also barred from providing or encouraging such treatments, as well as discouraging social transitioning.
