Trans residents in Kansas are reportedly leaving the state after more than 1,700 driver’s licenses were revoked this month under a sweeping new law. State officials issued letters ordering thousands to surrender their driver’s licenses following the passage of SB244, which restricts access to public restrooms and locker rooms based on birth sex. The law also allows residents to file lawsuits against individuals they believe are transgender or non-binary in such spaces.
The Kansas Division of Vehicles told affected residents their licenses were immediately invalid and must be replaced with ones reflecting their birth sex. Those who continue driving risk additional penalties, including fines up to $1,000 or possible jail time. Trans Kansan Jaelynn Abegg said she plans to leave the state rather than comply. She told NBC News. “It is a continuation of the message that the Legislature has been sending out for years now, and that is that transgender people are not welcome in Kansas.” For the trans community here, the legal challenges are ongoing, with civil rights groups arguing the law violates personal freedoms and dignity.
