A Kansas judge has issued a groundbreaking order that prohibits the state from allowing transgender individuals to change the sex listed on their driver’s licenses. This development comes as part of a lawsuit filed by Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, who accused two members of the Democratic administration of violating a new law that went into effect on July 1.
The new law specifically defines a person’s sex as either male or female, based on their biological reproductive system at birth. It requires the state to use these designations when enforcing any law or regulation. However, prior to the law taking effect, Governor Laura Kelly had announced that changes to driver’s licenses would still be permitted, allowing transgender individuals to have their gender identities reflected on their licenses.
Kobach argued that this practice would violate the new law, which he believed prohibited sex changes on licenses and reversed previous changes. Governor Kelly’s office disagreed with Kobach’s interpretation, stating that attorneys at the parent department did not share his assessment. They were working on a response to the judge’s order.
District Judge Teresa Watson’s order will initially be in effect for two weeks, with the possibility of extension. In her order, Watson emphasized that changes to licenses could cause immediate and irreparable harm to law enforcement efforts, as driver’s licenses are commonly used to identify criminals. Ensuring compliance with state legal requirements for identifying license holders is therefore a matter of public safety.
According to the Associated Press (AP), approximately 400 Kansas residents had chosen to change the sex on their licenses in the past four years. However, this year, before the new law took effect, the number of people making changes increased fourfold, as advocacy groups anticipated the process becoming more challenging after July 1.
While several states have been introducing laws that target transgender individuals, most still allow them to change their sex on driver’s licenses and birth certificates to align with their gender identities. The AP reports that Montana and Tennessee have policies against changing these documents, while Oklahoma restricts changes to birth certificates.
In conclusion, this new order by the Kansas judge marks a significant and controversial development in transgender rights. It remains to be seen how the situation will unfold and whether there will be further legal battles over the interpretation of the law.
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