Trans people are fleeing Kansas over demands to surrender IDs

Trans Kansans are reportedly leaving the US state in droves after thousands had their driving licences forcibly revoked.

The midwestern state revoked more than 1,700 IDs this month after handing letters to thousands of citizens demanding they surrender their driving licences.

It comes after lawmakers passed SB244, a sweeping anti-trans bill banning Kansans from using public toilets and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. The bill also allows resident to submit bounty-style lawsuits against anyone they spot in facilities who they believe are transgender or non-binary.

In response, the Kansas Division of Vehicles informed trans residents that their licences were now “invalid immediately” and must be exchanged for new licences documenting their birth sex.

Those who continue to drive without surrendering the licences could face “additional penalties”, including a $1,000 fine or even imprisonment.

Trans Kansan Jaelynn Abegg, who received a letter demanding her licence be revoked, said she plans to move to another state later this month and refuses to surrender her ID.

“I’m pretty heartbroken,” the 41-year-old 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.”

Another woman, Andrea Ellis, said that, upon travelling to the DMV to have her licence changed, staff were confused over what to do, eventually giving her a temporary license with no changes.

Matthew Neumann, a Kansas-born trans man, said he refuses to leave the state over the legislation despite being threatened for using public toilets.

“I’m just disappointed and frustrated,” he said. “I’m just hoping that maybe this is the wake up call we need.”

Kansas anti-trans law ‘poorly drafted’ governor says

Lawmakers passed the widely criticised bill despite governor Laura Kelly vetoing it in February, which was overturned by the Republican majority.

The Democratic governor said the law was “poorly drafted” and that its provisions were ripe for abuse that would have consequences “far beyond the intent to limit the right for trans people to use the appropriate bathroom”.

“[The law] will undoubtedly impact many others who are targeted with animus whether or not they are transgender. Meanwhile, leaders ignore real challenges facing families,” she continued. “This was sadly politics over people, but we will keep fighting for dignity and freedom for all LGBTQ+ people.”

Multiple cases have emerged across the UK and US over the past year, as anti-trans furore over toilet usage has grown louder, with many involving cisgender and transgender individuals.

In August last year, an 18-year-old cisgender lesbian said she was forced to expose her breasts to a staff member in a Buffalo Wild Wings who began banging on the toilet stall she was occupying and yelling that the “man needs to get out of here”.

Two anonymous trans Kansans sued the state over the bill’s passage last month, arguing that it violates human rights laws on autonomy and personal freedoms.

Douglas County District Judge James McCabria declined to grant a temporary restraining order against the law’s enforcement while the case proceeds earlier this week.

Harper Seldin, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) representing the plaintiffs said that Kansas was singling out trans residents “for unique social stigma”.

“They were suddenly required, with no notice or opportunity to be heard, to present themselves to the DMV to obtain driver’s licenses that announced to everyone – the teller at the bank, the clerk at the hotel, the poll worker on election day – that they are transgender,” Seldin said.

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