By NATE KING
Salina Post
In recent years, there has been a growing movement across the United States to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. However, despite the progress that has been made, there are still many states that are actively working to roll back these protections.
On April 18, though legislators were on spring recess, a group of LGBTQ+ rights advocates from north-central Kansas and Hays gathered at the steps of the Kansas capitol building to voice their disapproval of recent bills passed by the Kansas legislature that pertain to the rights of Kansas' transgender population.
Kevin Lynn, president for North Central Kansas Pride, Fred Bannon, Valerie Linenberger, Linenberger's daughter Morgan and her dog, Tikiu represented North Central Kansas Pride at the protest.
"God makes no mistakes," Valerie said. "Transgender people exist. They are real human beings and their lives and rights should be just as protected as my own or any other heterosexual, cisgendered person."
Valerie said the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation passed this session only "perpetuates hate," which in her opinion is one of the greatest threats facing the country.
The bills passed by the Kansas legislature this session would restrict the rights of transgender individuals including prohibiting them from participating in sports from kindergarten to the collegiate level and would make it more difficult for them to access healthcare and other essential services.
With signs and various pride flags in hand, the group, made up of both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies, chanted, "Five ,six, seven, eight, separate the church and state." The protesters also called for equality and justice for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.
One of the members of the group of protestors from Hays, T, who identifies as non-binary, said not only do they feel scared and angry about the current state of LGBTQ+ rights, but many of their transgender friends feel the same way. In particular, the issue regarding possible genital inspections for transgender students who wish to play sports.
"I'd rather them just ban us from being in sports then allow for the continued abuse of transgender students," T said. "We deserve the same rights and protections as anyone else. I encourage legislators to listen to those of us who know what we are talking about."
On Feb. 22, the issue regarding possible "medical examinations" for transgender students, in order to determine their gender prior to participating in sport, was discussed on the floor of the Kansas House. Rep. Barb Wasinger, R-Hays, who sponsored the HB2238 this session, engaged in a lengthy back and forth debate with Rep. Brandon Woodard, D-Lenexa. During the discussion she did not contest to the fact that students might need to be examined by a doctor for an official gender determination.
Woodard asked Wasinger, "We don't have a birth certificate, how are they suppose to prove it?" To which she replied, "That would be a medical examination by their doctor that they would fill out for a sports physical."
It was no coincidence that a majority of protestors in Topeka on April 18 were from Wasinger's district.
Protestor, LGBTQ+ advocate and native Kansan, Cosmo Jarboe, who identifies as transgender, said Wasinger's argument that HB 2238 protects women's rights is "ludicrous."
"It's not just competitive sports its intermural sports and other activities that transgender students are being excluded from," Jarboe said. "As someone who doesn't participate in sport, it won't directly impact me, but it is about taking bits and pieces. The erasing of intersex people is horrifying. They say transgender people are just trying to manipulate youth into getting reassignment surgery, and that is simply not true. "
Although the legislation does not mention the words transgender or intersex, Jarboe said bill's lack of using the word, transgender, makes it all the easier to discriminate trans Kansans.
"Show me one young man who wants to play on the girls softball team. There isn't one," Jarboe said. "They [Republican lawmakers] are acting as if there are people who want to play on the opposite team to get more awards or recognition, I've not met a single transgender person who fits that description."
Even though Kansas Republicans hope to override Governor Laura Kelly's veto of the legislation limiting trans rights, Jarboe said he has hope.
"I hope that it is not so grim. Being here with my wonderful community is the kind of thing that makes living a little easier," Jarboe said. "It seems like recently I've noticed more hate from the people around me simply because I am trans. Friends are coming out and saying things that are really hurtful and offensive. I get it all the time at school. It didn't always use to be that way."