Kansas City is considering a resolution that would designate the city as a sanctuary for people seeking or providing gender-affirming care, even as the state's attorney general proposes new restrictions on the procedures for adults and children.
The resolution, which was proposed by LGBTQ advocates in Kansas City, states that the city will not prosecute or fine any person or organization that seeks, receives, provides, or helps someone receive gender-affirming care, including surgery, hormones, and puberty blockers.
Kansas City's LGBTQ Commission Pushes for Gender-Affirming Care Sanctuary
According to the Associated Press, the resolution proposed by the LGBTQ Commission seeks to protect transgender, non-binary, and other LGBTQ residents of the Kansas City metro area.
With the proposed resolution, the city of Kansas City aims to offer a safe haven for individuals who seek gender-affirming care, which has been the subject of a contentious debate in the state of Missouri.
The proposal comes amid a flurry of legislative moves aimed at restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender people in Missouri and other states.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey's proposed emergency rule would mandate that individuals, including adults and children, complete more than one year of therapy and other prerequisites before being eligible for gender-affirming treatments like puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery.
Mayor Quinton Lucas and Council Member Andrea Bough view this proposed rule as part of a broader campaign by Republican-controlled legislatures in Missouri and other states to introduce bills that limit the rights of LGBTQ residents, particularly transgender individuals.
By passing the proposed resolution, Kansas City is poised to take a stand against anti-LGBTQ legislation that would be detrimental to the well-being and mental health of the transgender community.
Council member Andrea Bough, who is one of the co-sponsors of the resolution along with Mayor Quinton Lucas and Councilman Eric Bunch, expressed that it is crucial to support the LGBTQ community, particularly children, who may have concerns regarding acceptance in the city and state.
Bough emphasized the importance of letting them know that they are welcomed and protected in Kansas City.
Kansas on Abortion and Women's Sport
The Center for Reproductive Rights stated that Kansas has enacted several restrictions on abortion, but it remains legal as long as the state constitution is not amended.
In 2019, the Kansas Supreme Court made a significant ruling that affirmed a pregnant person's right to personal autonomy, stating that it is protected in the state's constitution.
This means that each individual has the right to make their own decision about whether or not to continue a pregnancy.
However, the state does have a general prohibition on abortions after 22 weeks of LMP and post-viability.
On another note, PBS previously reported that Kansas is among the states that have recently banned transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports from kindergarten through college.
This law is set to take effect on July 1. The state is one of the many that have been pursuing proposals to push back on LGBTQ rights, and this law is one of several that Republican lawmakers across the country have introduced this year.
In conclusion, the proposed sanctuary resolution by Kansas City's LGBTQ Commission has the potential to make a significant impact on the lives of transgender and non-binary individuals seeking gender-affirming care.
As the battle over transgender rights continues to play out in Missouri and across the country, Kansas City's move to offer a safe haven for the transgender community sends a message of hope and acceptance to those who need it the most.
