Zippered!

Silenced, tossed out, gagged, stifled, a Republican legislator kicks out for telling the truth!

Critics of Kansas bills blocking transgender medical care to minors tossed from House hearing
Doctor, politicians defend legislation viewed as a shield against child abuse
Kansas Reflector
BY: TIM CARPENTER
MARCH 1, 2024


Kansas House Rep. Brenda Landwehr kicked the first person out of Thursday’s hearing on anti-transgender legislation for cradling a protest sign in the room.

Landwehr, a Wichita Republican and chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, bounced someone from the second row about 45 minutes later during questioning of proponents of legislation sharply restricting access by minors to gender-affirming medical care.

At the outset, she had warned the standing-room-only crowd that outbursts of any kind would be unacceptable and offenders would be asked to leave or be escorted out by uniformed officers of the Capitol Police.

“I said no talking, no disruption, and I meant it,” Landwehr said. “I think I was pretty plain.”

During questioning of a teacher opposed to intrusion of legislators into personal lives of school children, Landwehr warned the witness not to speak over her because “if you’re talking, you’re not listening.” Near conclusion of the day’s proceedings, Landwehr slapped her gavel to declare Lawrence transgender activist Iridescent Riffel out of order for asserting a vote in favor of anti-transgender bills meant the blood of children would “be on your hands.”

Landwehr didn’t hesitate to issue the expulsion order: “Please leave the room or we will escort you out.”

They don't want to hear the truth! The truth doesn't fit their narrative about us, it calls their lies out! 

OPINION
A lawmaker ejected and threatened transgender Kansans. Her hearing was a disgrace.
Kansas Reflector
By Clay Wirestone
MARCH 4, 2024

Rep. Brenda Landwehr: What you did to LGBTQ+ Kansans at your Thursday hearing in the Kansas Statehouse has no excuse.

Your committee was considering bills that would criminalize lifesaving care for children. The mere act of debating House Bill 2791 and House Bill 2792 harmed transgender kids across the state. A host of advocates and activists, parents and children, told you this through testimony and email messages, opinion columns and public speeches.

You didn’t listen.

Instead, you issued imperious orders. You expelled prominent LGBTQ+ advocates after one knocked over a water bottle, threatened speakers with capitol police, and cut off testimony that offended you.

You added to the abuse. You negated compassionate souls who were looking out for themselves and those they loved.

“It was more than unnecessary. It was shocking,” said Melissa Stiehler, advocacy director for youth voter engagement organization Loud Light, describing the ejection of one advocate.

A couple of folks used strong words in addressing you and your compatriots on the House Health and Human Services Committee. That’s because the bill you were hearing could lead to the deaths of their friends. They didn’t make that choice. You did. The least you could have done for these brave souls was to sit and listen, as you did when you allowed HB 2791 sponsor Rep. Ron Bryce, R-Coffeyville, to call gender reassignment surgery the equivalent of a lobotomy.

*****

Kansas Republicans want to ban transgender youths from getting gender-affirming care
Gannett
Jason Alatidd, Topeka Capital-Journal
March 2, 2024 at 5:07 AM

Kansas Republican legislators were successful last year at enacting several pieces of anti-transgender legislation over the vetoes of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

Now, the GOP has renewed the push for the one bill they couldn't get enacted last session: a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

Supporters of banning gender-affirming care say they are protecting children from abuse, but LGBTQ rights advocates say such a ban would worsen the higher suicide rates among trans people.

I just don't understand why they hate us? Is it just politics? But when you reads comments it goes much beyond politics, they rank and file, really, really hate us to the point that they want us dead or made criminals.