USD 259 parents make final pleas ahead of likely school closures
1 March 2024
TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) – The House Committee on Health and Human Services convened for a hearing on bills regarding gender-affirming care for Kansas children.
HB 2791 and HB 2792 would effectively render the state’s healthcare professionals incapable of providing gender transition treatment, including surgery and hormone therapy, to children.
HB 2791 was initially introduced by Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville. He was the first to testify at the hearing.
“Transgender treatments manipulate or destroy tissue or flesh in otherwise healthy bodies to treat mental problems,” Bryce said. “For the sake of comparison, I’d like to draw attention to another historical practice – the practice of lobotomy that was part of the mainstream care in its heyday. Like trans treatments, it manipulates or destroys healthy tissue in order to treat mental problems.”
Dr. Ivan Abdus, former medical director for the Omaha Gender Identity Team, provided further proponent testimony, saying the health risks associated with these treatments are extreme and unnecessary.
“Some say transitioning is life-saving treatment,” Abdus said. “Disproven, but even if true, it’s life-damaging for those who de-transition and even some who don’t. That risk must be included in the decision.”
Opponents of the bill argue that gender transition treatment is life-saving and that there are significant mental health benefits for patients who receive it.
Mikela Bonner, a registered nurse in Wichita, said in the hearing that these treatments are vital.
“We see increased levels of satisfaction, happiness, feelings of personal success,” Bonner said. “All in individuals who are going through this care as guided by our providers, as guided by the standard of care.”
D.C. Hiegert, an attorney with the ACLU of Kansas, argued medical decisions should be in the hands of providers, not politicians.
“This bill would set a precedent in Kansas that Kansas medical providers should not give you the nationally recommended best medical care available,” Hiegert said. “But instead, give you the medical care politicians decide you should have access to.”
As of now, both bills are still up for debate at the committee level.