1. United States
2. Kan.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the Substitute Bill for Senate Bill 244, which incorporates amendments from House Bill 2426. This legislation, scheduled for House floor debate on January 28, would impose severe restrictions on bathroom access in government buildings based on biological sex while eliminating unisex bathrooms and creating criminal penalties for violations. This bill harms all Kansans, not just transgender individuals. By turning everyday citizens into what Rep. Lindsay Vaughn accurately described as "the gender police," it creates an enforcement nightmare that invites harassment and discrimination. How will compliance be verified? The legislation provides no clear answer, opening the door to invasive questioning and policing of anyone whose appearance doesn't conform to someone else's expectations. The criminal and civil penalties are particularly troubling. A $1,000 civil penalty for second violations and misdemeanor charges for three or more violations would criminalize basic human needs. This punitive approach targets a vulnerable population already experiencing high rates of violence, making it harder for them to exist safely in public life. The bill's scope extends beyond bathrooms to invalidate and reissue driver's licenses and birth certificates, imposing significant administrative burdens on state agencies while forcing transgender Kansans to carry identification that doesn't match their lived reality. This creates practical barriers to employment, housing, and daily transactions. Rep. Dan Osman raised a critical question that remains unanswered: where are transgender individuals supposed to go? By eliminating unisex bathrooms while restricting access to other facilities, this legislation offers no safe options. The result will be transgender Kansans avoiding government buildings entirely, effectively excluding them from civic participation. Kansas faces real challenges that deserve legislative attention. This bill solves no actual problem while creating new ones. I ask you to vote against the Substitute Bill for Senate Bill 244 and focus instead on legislation that serves all Kansans.