Kansas Appeals Court Restores Gender Marker Changes Amid Legal Challenges

The Kansas Court of Appeals recently ruled to allow transgender Kansans to change the gender markers on their driver's licenses, overturning a lower court's injunction that had blocked such changes. Despite this legal victory, the Kansas Department of Revenue is not currently implementing the ruling due to Attorney General Kris Kobach's intent to appeal, effectively maintaining the suspension of gender marker changes during the appeals process. The appeals court found that the lower court judge had erred legally and factually in blocking changes and ruled that recognizing a person's gender identity on licenses does not cause harm to the state. Transgender Kansans, like Jessie Lawson, have expressed frustration and embarrassment at being denied license changes despite the court ruling. Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding Tennessee's restrictions on gender transition care has not impacted the state's current policies, with advocates affirming support for transgender minors and the continuation of gender transition care. Wisconsin remains one of about half the states still offering such care, even as Republican lawmakers push for bans and the governor signals veto intentions.