Dear Kansas Legislators
A plea for compassion towards transgender and other LGBTQIA+ youth
Dear Kansas Legislators,
Last Thursday (2/2/2023) my son wept for joy. Tears rolling down his cheeks, softly sobbing but with one of the biggest smiles on his face I’ve seen in awhile. A district court judge in Douglas County where we live granted our petition to change his name. You see, the baby girl we thought we’d been blessed turned out to be a boy. But still the same beautiful soul we’ve always known, if not now more whole, more complete, after better understanding who he really is as a person. And his new name, reflective of how he identifies, is now legally recognized by the state of Kansas.
The look on his face when the judge didn’t just grant his petition, but also acknowledged his mental well-being as a legitimate need for this change, said it all. He felt seen. He felt heard. He felt accepted. By a court judge. By someone in authority. By the state of Kansas. If only everyone in the Kansas legislature were as accepting.
Some of you are again introducing bills that target LGBTQIA+ individuals and transgender students specifically. There’s House Bill 2238, yet another iteration of the “fairness in women’s sports act,” introduced 1/31/2023 in a House Education Committee hearing (requested for introduction by Representative Barb Wasinger). There’s Senate Bill 12, titled the “child mutilation prevention act” (a title that is as ignorant as it is offensive to transgender kids and their families), introduced by Senator Mike Thompson and Senator Mark Steffen on 1/9/2023, referred separately to the Committee on Public Health and Welfare and the Committee on Judiciary. This bill criminalizes hormone replacement therapy and gender affirming surgery for anyone under 21, with only a few exceptions.
There’s also the not yet numbered bill introduced by Senator Mark Thompson on 1/31/2023 that would criminalize drag show performances with minors in attendance (first offense equals a misdemeanor; subsequent offenses equal a felony). Drag queen library story times are probably what come to mind for many here, but as former Representative Stephanie Byers recently pointed out, she would be in violation of this law every time she publicly sang or played as a musician. My son would be in violation at every choir or orchestra concert. They both would be “in violation for simply existing” and being who they are.
It’s my understanding that if any of these bills were passed, it would probably be difficult to achieve the 2/3 majority needed in each chamber to override the inevitable vetoes from the governor (though not impossible). These would then seem to primarily be performative acts intended to signal to a right leaning base. Such actions play on the ignorance and fear of that base to “create a climate of fear and uncertainty around LGBTQ Kansans,” with the end result being the formation or expansion of bubbles of hate and ignorance. This alienates and others LGTBQIA+ individuals, their families, and their friends. It disenfranchises them from having a normal day-to-day life. It seems that many legislators want to force the choice of living a lie and remaining locked in a closet, living openly and experiencing harassment and fear (or worse), or leaving the state.
Even in purple Lawrence, with a supportive school district, community leaders, friends, and family, my son navigates day-to-day life with a general feeling of anxiety. He experiences enough fear that when outside the home, even in school, he feels he must watch his back. He even feels he should be carrying a knife. That’s the constant level of stress and anxiety he feels - that negatively impacts his mental and physical health. And these bills and the rhetoric of many state legislators (such as calling drag performances obscene and promoting obscenity to minors) DIRECTLY contributes to that justifiable fear.
If you really do want to protect kids, then I’d implore you to do a more thorough examination of the science and research underlying the complexities of biological sex and gender - complexities that are found within ours and other species (and I’ve touched on that some here). You’ve had plenty of actual experts (biology, medical, psychology, social work, education, etc.), some of who are or were your colleagues, previously submit written testimony or testify in front of committees. You could review that testimony, and I’m sure most would be happy to engage in conversation. You have current and past colleagues who are members of the LBGTQIA+ community or their allies to speak with. Please take advantage of that.
For those of you creating and promoting such legislation, I’d ask as a Kansan and the parent of a transgender child that you approach this with more of an open mind. I’d ask that you be more compassionate and consider the harm your actions are causing my son and other trans kids. I’d ask that you not sacrifice my son’s safety and mental well-being to score political points. I’d ask that you listen to what trans and other LGBTQIA+ youth are saying. Consider the relief and sheer joy they might experience hearing from you, a legislator, someone in authority, that you accept and acknowledge their right to exist as LGBTQIA+ humans. That’s the power you have as a legislator and a real example of making Kansans’ lives better.
Sincerely,
Marcel Harmon
Might like to cross-post this one Leonard.
Thank you, Marcel, and keep speaking out.