A Kansas judge has issued a temporary order preventing residents from altering the gender designation on their driver's licenses. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by the state's Republican Attorney General, Kris Kobach, against Governor Laura Kelly's administration. The legal dispute centers on a recently implemented state law mandating the use of biological sex on government documents, which Kobach argues contradicts the existing policy permitting gender changes based on self-identified gender identity.
District Judge Teresa Watson's ruling puts a two-week hold on gender modifications on licenses, with the possibility of an extension until the lawsuit's conclusion. Kobach's lawsuit contends that the governor's administration is defying the new law, which took effect July 1st. Approximately 400 Kansas residents have already changed their gender on their licenses under the previous policy.
The judge's order doesn't mandate reversal for those who have already changed their licenses but prevents new changes while the case proceeds. Kobach seeks to revert all licenses to reflect biological sex if his lawsuit prevails. Judge Watson cited public safety concerns in her decision, emphasizing the role of driver's licenses in law enforcement identification procedures.
The contested law defines sex based on biological reproductive systems assigned at birth, applying this definition across state regulations. It also supports single-sex spaces like restrooms and locker rooms for privacy, health, and safety reasons. Kansas is among several states with laws restricting transgender individuals' facility access based on gender identity, although the new law lacks an enforcement mechanism.
