States that have banned transgender athletes from participating in school or college sports, including Kansas, may have to reconfigure their laws if proposed federal changes to Title IX go into effect.
The US Department of Education is considering a rule that would make it illegal for schools or universities to ban transgender student athletes from being on sports teams that align with their gender identities. The rule leaves open the possibility of participation restrictions, according to ABC News.
According to the Department of Education, Title IX protects people “from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal funding.”
*Click here for the ABC News story on this subject.
*Click here for the US Department of Education’s Title IX information page.
This comes just days after the Kansas Legislature overrode Governor Laura Kelly’s veto of House Bill 2238, also known as the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. It also comes as the Kansas Senate passed legislation to restrict transgenders from using restrooms aligned with their identities and prevent them from changing names or genders on their drivers licenses. A veto and subsequent override are expected with this bill.
It also comes as both legislative chambers have now passed Senate Bill 26, which bans what’s called gender-affirming care for minors. 17th District Senator Jeff Longbine of Emporia, 13th District Representative Duane Droge of Eureka and 76th District Representative Eric Smith of Burlington voted yes, while 60th District Representative Mark Schreiber of Emporia voted no.
Besides prohibiting gender reassignment services for minors, the bill requires the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts to revoke doctor licenses if they perform such work and it allows people who had gender reassignment as children to bring civil lawsuits against the doctors performing those procedures. A veto is expected here as well, but this vote does not have a veto-proof majority in either body.
Both chambers have now passed House Bill 2138, which is designed to have separate travel accommodations for students of each biological sex during school-sponsored travel. Longbine, Schreiber, Droge and Smith were all in favor. The House vote was 84-39 in favor. The Senate vote was 28-10.
