Thank you for keeping us updated on the criminal behavior of those “in charge”. Interesting that the decision to revoke licenses of transgendered individuals arose from a “committee” rather than putting it on a valid state wide ballot. This action, once again, attempt to limit the voice of the People. That shit will not survive the tenacious sane population of Americans. Donating to the ACLU….
As horrific as this is, we need to also make room on our plates for how Kansas had a list of trans citizens already ready to target when the shit hit the fan. Who knows which other state/federal offices are in the process of compiling similar lists?
Right... I wonder if they're keeping separate databases, or if it's as simple as an employee doing a search for changed gender markers which could potentially go back as far as records have been digitally kept. Ugh.
Excellent reporting. I agree that it is going to be left to each state to protect their transgender citizens, and we are already seeing those wheels in motion. In Erin's reporting yesterday, it appears that Mamdani and James need to get to work on the promises that were made during his campaign. States that will protect their transgender citizens will end up forming a patchwork of "safe places," but we will have to wait for a new SCOTUS, who is willing to restore rights, for the US to resemble anything that allows transgender citizens to live with the dignity and compassion that should be available to all inhabitants.
Draconian. That is the only word I can think of to describe what the Kansas Legislatures has done to its transgender population. And the cruelty is OBVIOUSLY the point as they offered zero grace period and insisted the law take effect IMMEDIATELY. There is ZERO justification for such a draconian law because it attempts to solve a problem THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
Thank goodness the ACLU has stepped in, and thank goodness especially that they are seeking a quick/immediate injunction. We will see what happens. This legislation is absolutely draconian and cruel. It is a dystopian nightmare that would have been unthinkable even a few short years ago.
Thank goodness for the ACLU. But the legislators need to also hear from the people and businesses that this is a dumb and mean law. From what I can tell, gerrymandering has made every R state legislative seat safe in 2026 so we are going to have to get the everyday people to care about the fundamental unfairness of this. Reminds me of (but worse than) NC’s bathroom bill several years ago. Musicians stopped performing in NC, I think some sports leagues got involved and everyday people came out and protested in numbers. And then there were the boycotts. The following companies all have headquarters or major investments in Kansas. Some won’t be moved but some might. RL=right leaning, LL=left leaning and OTF=on the fence
Black & Veatch - OTF
MGP Ingredients- OTF
Evergy - OTF
Black Hills energy — OTF
Project Mica — OTF
Garmin industries — LL
AMC theatres — LL
Seaboard Corporation -RL
Compass Minerals -RL
Koch Industries — RL
Also, if you know any musicians with scheduled Kansas tour dates, reach out to them in any way you can and see if you can get them to cancel or make a public statement.
Well, the R’s ultimately lost that test. But it took a lot of good people working together to make it happen. And it had to include people who, to the best of their knowledge, had never even met a trans person but know hateful and unnecessary legislation when they see and are willing to stand up and call it out.
My point is that the R's took that loss and learned from it. Because Republicans never give up trying to take away the civil rights of the people they hate. They are literally a bona fide Nazi party.
You are absolutely right. What confuses me though is the studies that show that these kinds of laws are not what the vast majority of R’s want and yet their elected officials still push them instead of things that could really help their constituents. Seems like fertile ground for putting some distance/doubt in some of these voters minds and getting them to push their officials off these issues (kinda like the anti-ICE Rs)
Republicans always believe they have a mandate to enact the most cruel and draconian laws whenever they get elected. They are also notorious for ignoring the will of the voters whenever ballot initiatives attempt to roll back their fascism. They don't actually care about democracy and only care about punishing their so-called enemies.
I agree, but I do think they care about being reelected and if they are up against other Republicans that have platforms more consistent with what their constituents actually want I think they get concerned and can be moved, but it also takes those constituents letting them know they are out there (and the right challenger) to make this happen.
Now is the time for cisgender allies to step up - to invite their trans friends, neighbors and coworkers to carpool with them until there is hopefully an injunction against the state. As a trans person in Kansas, I would not risk arrest and jail time by driving with a license deemed invalid. NOR would I relinquish my correctly marked driver's license.
It's very interesting that a case argued on state constitutional grounds is not subject to SCOTUS review. That seems like the path forward, at least in states with sympathetic supreme courts.
I am very happy to see that the ACLU has stepped in and taken up the fight. We need groups like them on our side. I joined the ACLU a couple of years ago to support them. I live in Texas and we get all the hatred they can create. The driver's license thing is beyond even Texas's hate. For now. I am sure they are watching with eager interest.
Damned glad to see the ACLU throw their hat in the ring. They have the resources and the brain trust to put the best possible case together- still no guarantee, with SCOTUS in a Republican death grip, but they rarely miss a step. Hopefully a they'll secure a stay on enforcement in relatively short order, and give trans Kansans a reprieve during the agonizing wait for the final outcome.
I was waiting for the law suits to start - they ACLU never fails to take action and should be supported . The Kansas legislators that over road the Governors veto should be ashamed of themselves for their continued morally uneducated knowledge about the community they know nothing about - I know that its a ways off but come the next election they should all be made to account for their votes
Excellent. This law is extremely unconstitutional, both Federal and State. It needs to be thrown into the trash bin of history as soon as possible. Shame on Kansas Republicans. Nothing but Bigots and Nazis
Thank goddess for the ACLU-
Thank you for keeping us updated on the criminal behavior of those “in charge”. Interesting that the decision to revoke licenses of transgendered individuals arose from a “committee” rather than putting it on a valid state wide ballot. This action, once again, attempt to limit the voice of the People. That shit will not survive the tenacious sane population of Americans. Donating to the ACLU….
Weary but fierce!
As horrific as this is, we need to also make room on our plates for how Kansas had a list of trans citizens already ready to target when the shit hit the fan. Who knows which other state/federal offices are in the process of compiling similar lists?
An excellent analysis here: https://transitics.substack.com/p/kansas-secretly-spent-years-making?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=3311490&post_id=189282024&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMDEzNTE2NTIsInBvc3RfaWQiOjE4OTI4MjAyNCwiaWF0IjoxNzcyMTM2MzE3LCJleHAiOjE3NzQ3MjgzMTcsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0zMzExNDkwIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.s9dYw9c4A369Ehzy8AO9TBPQ4TBxANPuQgYO6JW9qtw&r=1ocbfo&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
Right... I wonder if they're keeping separate databases, or if it's as simple as an employee doing a search for changed gender markers which could potentially go back as far as records have been digitally kept. Ugh.
I would assume that the DMV would have that data ready since any name and gender change would end up in a database.
Exactly. And too many AGs
rolled over and just gave them those lists.
Let’s hope Jeff Jackson stands firm against this in NC.
Indeed
Thanks for the link. It looks like they've flagged only about 1 in 10 or 15 transgender drivers.
Excellent reporting. I agree that it is going to be left to each state to protect their transgender citizens, and we are already seeing those wheels in motion. In Erin's reporting yesterday, it appears that Mamdani and James need to get to work on the promises that were made during his campaign. States that will protect their transgender citizens will end up forming a patchwork of "safe places," but we will have to wait for a new SCOTUS, who is willing to restore rights, for the US to resemble anything that allows transgender citizens to live with the dignity and compassion that should be available to all inhabitants.
Draconian. That is the only word I can think of to describe what the Kansas Legislatures has done to its transgender population. And the cruelty is OBVIOUSLY the point as they offered zero grace period and insisted the law take effect IMMEDIATELY. There is ZERO justification for such a draconian law because it attempts to solve a problem THAT DOES NOT EXIST.
💯
Thank goodness the ACLU has stepped in, and thank goodness especially that they are seeking a quick/immediate injunction. We will see what happens. This legislation is absolutely draconian and cruel. It is a dystopian nightmare that would have been unthinkable even a few short years ago.
I believe in the ACLU. I don't believe in the Supreme Court, though. God's justice is what we likely have left. But it is coming.
Thank goodness for the ACLU. But the legislators need to also hear from the people and businesses that this is a dumb and mean law. From what I can tell, gerrymandering has made every R state legislative seat safe in 2026 so we are going to have to get the everyday people to care about the fundamental unfairness of this. Reminds me of (but worse than) NC’s bathroom bill several years ago. Musicians stopped performing in NC, I think some sports leagues got involved and everyday people came out and protested in numbers. And then there were the boycotts. The following companies all have headquarters or major investments in Kansas. Some won’t be moved but some might. RL=right leaning, LL=left leaning and OTF=on the fence
Black & Veatch - OTF
MGP Ingredients- OTF
Evergy - OTF
Black Hills energy — OTF
Project Mica — OTF
Garmin industries — LL
AMC theatres — LL
Seaboard Corporation -RL
Compass Minerals -RL
Koch Industries — RL
Also, if you know any musicians with scheduled Kansas tour dates, reach out to them in any way you can and see if you can get them to cancel or make a public statement.
Turns out North Carolina was merely a test case.
Well, the R’s ultimately lost that test. But it took a lot of good people working together to make it happen. And it had to include people who, to the best of their knowledge, had never even met a trans person but know hateful and unnecessary legislation when they see and are willing to stand up and call it out.
My point is that the R's took that loss and learned from it. Because Republicans never give up trying to take away the civil rights of the people they hate. They are literally a bona fide Nazi party.
You are absolutely right. What confuses me though is the studies that show that these kinds of laws are not what the vast majority of R’s want and yet their elected officials still push them instead of things that could really help their constituents. Seems like fertile ground for putting some distance/doubt in some of these voters minds and getting them to push their officials off these issues (kinda like the anti-ICE Rs)
Republicans always believe they have a mandate to enact the most cruel and draconian laws whenever they get elected. They are also notorious for ignoring the will of the voters whenever ballot initiatives attempt to roll back their fascism. They don't actually care about democracy and only care about punishing their so-called enemies.
I agree, but I do think they care about being reelected and if they are up against other Republicans that have platforms more consistent with what their constituents actually want I think they get concerned and can be moved, but it also takes those constituents letting them know they are out there (and the right challenger) to make this happen.
I just made a large donation to the ACLU. This war on trans people must end. https://action.aclu.org/give/pm-donate-to-aclu
Now is the time for cisgender allies to step up - to invite their trans friends, neighbors and coworkers to carpool with them until there is hopefully an injunction against the state. As a trans person in Kansas, I would not risk arrest and jail time by driving with a license deemed invalid. NOR would I relinquish my correctly marked driver's license.
It's very interesting that a case argued on state constitutional grounds is not subject to SCOTUS review. That seems like the path forward, at least in states with sympathetic supreme courts.
I am very happy to see that the ACLU has stepped in and taken up the fight. We need groups like them on our side. I joined the ACLU a couple of years ago to support them. I live in Texas and we get all the hatred they can create. The driver's license thing is beyond even Texas's hate. For now. I am sure they are watching with eager interest.
Damned glad to see the ACLU throw their hat in the ring. They have the resources and the brain trust to put the best possible case together- still no guarantee, with SCOTUS in a Republican death grip, but they rarely miss a step. Hopefully a they'll secure a stay on enforcement in relatively short order, and give trans Kansans a reprieve during the agonizing wait for the final outcome.
Fingers crossed that the ACLU is successful. One weeps for those unfortunate enough to be living in Kansas these days.
I'm glad the aclu stepped up.
My auto donation just went through yesterday.
In a sane world the federal government would be stopping this, but the heritage foundation bought it
I was waiting for the law suits to start - they ACLU never fails to take action and should be supported . The Kansas legislators that over road the Governors veto should be ashamed of themselves for their continued morally uneducated knowledge about the community they know nothing about - I know that its a ways off but come the next election they should all be made to account for their votes
Excellent. This law is extremely unconstitutional, both Federal and State. It needs to be thrown into the trash bin of history as soon as possible. Shame on Kansas Republicans. Nothing but Bigots and Nazis