Kansas bans trans procedures on minors, overturning governor's veto

Laura Kelly's decision has been overturned, making Kansas the 26th state to ban gender reassignment surgeries and chemical treatments for minors.

Published by

Alejandro Baños

February 19, 2025

2 minutes read

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By a large majority, the Kansas Legislature approved a ban on gender transition procedures for minors, overriding democratic Governor Laura Kelly's recent veto of the Republican-backed proposal.

This ban, which is set to go into effect this month, was passed by a Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature. A total of 85 representatives and 31 senators voted to override Kelly's veto while only 34 representatives and nine senators sided with her in opposition.

Kansas "is not a sanctuary state"

Supporters of overturning Kelly's decision argued that gender reassignment surgeries and chemical treatments stem from a "radical" ideology that harms minors and subjects them to irreversible consequences.

"A supermajority of the Kansas Senate declared that Kansas is no longer a sanctuary state for the maiming and sterilization of minors. This action is also consistent with President Donald Trump's Executive Order to stop these barbaric procedures nationwide," state Senate President Ty Masterson, a Republican, wrote in a social media post.

A few days ago, Kelly vetoed a Republican-backed bill that sought to ban gender reassignment surgeries and chemical treatments for minors.

"It is disappointing that they continue to push for government interference in citizens' private medical decisions instead of focusing on issues that improve everyone's lives," she said. Now, Republicans have succeeded in overriding the governor's decision.

26th state to ban these procedures

Once it goes into effect, Kansas will become the 26th state to ban gender reassignment surgeries and treatments for minors, joining Idaho, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Oklahoma, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Louisiana, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, West Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and New Hampshire.

Montana has also approved a ban but it has yet to take effect.

Currently, 15 states allow gender reassignment procedures for minors by law, including Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maine. In Arkansas, the issue is still in the courts, while no legislation has been passed in the remaining nine states.

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