Kansas GOP bill HB 2238 set to authorize schoolchildren genital exams

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The Kansas state legislature has passed a ban on transgender students participating in female categories in school and college sports, overriding a veto by the state’s Democratic governor. The bill, called the Fairness in Women’s Sport Act, will prohibit biologically male students from participating as women or girls in sports, either in teams or female categories, and will take effect on July 1. HB 2238 was enacted into law on Wednesday after Republican state legislatures overrode the governor’s veto by 84 to 40 in the House and 28 to 12 in the Senate. The legislation has been criticized by opponents who say that it could lead to “genital inspections” of transgender students. The issue of transgender rights in sports and female spaces is highly contentious, with some arguing that transgender women should be treated like other women, while others maintain that hard-won women’s rights must be protected. During a February session on the bill, Republican Barbara Wasinger, who introduced the bill, said the bill would be enforced during a ‘student’s physical,’ according to Buzzfeed. When further questioned about whether the physical would amount to a genital inspection, Wasinger reportedly couldn’t recall.

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Forced genital inspections. Of CHILDREN. The Republicans who claim to care about protecting children voted for forced genital inspections of children because they’re afraid a trans kid might want to play on a team with their friends. https://t.co/46GCcQ3udZ

— Mallory McMorrow (@MalloryMcMorrow) April 6, 2023