- Homosexuality
- ⚢✔ Legal
- Gay Marriage
- ⚭✔ Legal
- Censorship
- ✔ No censorship
- Changing Gender
- ✖ Illegal
- Non-binary gender recognition
- ✖ Not legally recognized
- Discrimination
- ✖ Illegal in some contexts
- Employment Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Housing Discrimination
- ✔ Sexual orientation and gender identity
- Adoption
- ✔ Legal
- Military
- ✔ Legal
- Donating Blood
- ✔ Legal
- Conversion Therapy
- ✖ Not banned
- Age of Consent
- ✔ Equal
Public Opinion
Public opinion in Kansas appears to be somewhat divided on LGBTQ+ issues, as evidenced by recent studies.
OPPOSE
SUPPORT
History
Homosexual activity in Kansas is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2003
Since Jun 26, 2003
Legal
Same-sex marriage in Kansas is legal.
Current status
Since Jun 26, 2015
Since Jun 26, 2015
Legal
The US Supreme Court rules that same-sex marriage is legal nationwide.
Ambiguous
Same sex marriage is currently allowed in 2 counties. The state is expected to increase this as the ban is challenged county by county
Censorship of LGBT Issues in Kansas is no censorship.
Current status
No censorship
Kansas does not have laws censoring LGBT content.
However, on March 22, 2022, the Senate passed censorship bill that would have allowed parents to object to content that "impairs the parent's firmly held beliefs, values or principles." The bill was vetoed by the governor and never came into effect.
However, on March 22, 2022, the Senate passed censorship bill that would have allowed parents to object to content that "impairs the parent's firmly held beliefs, values or principles." The bill was vetoed by the governor and never came into effect.
Right to change legal gender in Kansas is illegal.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2023
Since Jul 1, 2023
Illegal
Kansas passed a new law making it impossible to change one's gender marker on legal documents, be it driver's licenses or birth certificates.
Any documents previously changed would be reverted after renewal.
Any documents previously changed would be reverted after renewal.
Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Kansas is not legally recognized.
Current status
Not legally recognized
Not currently recognized.
LGBT discrimination in Kansas is illegal in some contexts.
Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Kansas law prohibits discrimination on the bases of sexual orientation or gender identity in government employment. Lawrence is the only jurisdiction in Kansas where such discrimination is prohibited in government and private employment. Salina and Hutchinson had previously had these kinds of discrimination prohibited in government and private employment until the November 2012 election when voters of both cities repealed both anti-discrimination ordinances.
Until Sep 14, 2016
No protections
governor just removed protections for lgbt people there.
LGBT employment discrimination in Kansas is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Protected federally under a Supreme Court ruling.
Until Jun 15, 2020
No protections
There are no legal protections from employment discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification. However, state public employees are protected based upon both sexual orientation and gender identification.
LGBT housing discrimination in Kansas is sexual orientation and gender identity.
Current status
Since Aug 21, 2020
Since Aug 21, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In August 2020, the Kansas Human Rights Commission announced that it will investigate and resolve cases alleging discrimination on basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing and public accommodations.
No protections
This state does not provide any legal protections from discrimination based upon sexual orientation or gender identification.
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
However, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
Same-sex adoption in Kansas is legal.
Current status
Since Jul 1, 2018
Since Jul 1, 2018
Legal
Single adoption, joint adoption by married couples and second parent adoption by married couples are legal.
However, Kansas allows discrimination against LGBT people on the basis of religion, which means LGBT couples can be refused by some adoption agencies.
However, Kansas allows discrimination against LGBT people on the basis of religion, which means LGBT couples can be refused by some adoption agencies.
Until Jan 1, 2018
Single only
Kansas Statute §59-2113 permits adoption by any adult (statute doesn't exclude upon sexual orientation) or any male-female, married couple petitioning jointly.
In November 2012, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled in the case In the Matter of the Adoption of I. M. that a single person who is not a biological parent of a child cannot petition to adopt that child without terminating the other parent's parental rights. Since the State of Kansas does not recognize same-sex marriages (Some individual counties do), this ruling effectively prevents same-sex couples from second-parent adoption in Kansas. Though, another court case has granted parental rights in the instances of second-parent adoption by a biological parent.
In November 2012, the Kansas Court of Appeals ruled in the case In the Matter of the Adoption of I. M. that a single person who is not a biological parent of a child cannot petition to adopt that child without terminating the other parent's parental rights. Since the State of Kansas does not recognize same-sex marriages (Some individual counties do), this ruling effectively prevents same-sex couples from second-parent adoption in Kansas. Though, another court case has granted parental rights in the instances of second-parent adoption by a biological parent.
Serving openly in military in Kansas is legal.
Current status
Since Sep 20, 2011
Since Sep 20, 2011
Legal
Don't Ask, Don't Tell is officially repealed throughout the United States, and gays and lesbians may openly serve.
Blood donations by MSMs in Kansas is legal.
Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Since May 11, 2023
Legal
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Banned (3-month deferral)
Blood donation centers follow the new FDA 3-month deferral guidance.
Banned (1-year deferral)
Blood donation centers followed the non-binding FDA one year deferral guidance.
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Conversion therapy in Kansas is not banned.
Current status
Not banned
Conversion Therapy is currently legal. No law currently bans it, despite organizations such as the American Psychological Association denouncing it. Though it's not actually ambiguous (It is in fact legal), this is the best indicator of the available options.