FACT CHECK: Does Kansas House Bill 2238 Authorize ‘Genital Inspections Of Children?’
A post shared on Twitter purports Kansas H.B. 2238 authorizes “genital inspections of children” in order for them to play sports.
BREAKING: Kansas Republicans have successfully overridden the Governor veto to now authorize genital inspections of children in order for kids to play sports. A very dark & disturbing day.#ksleg
— Davis Hammet (@Davis_Hammet) April 5, 2023
Verdict: False
The bill bans transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams if they were born male. The bill does not include any verbiage about “genital inspections.”
Fact Check:
The Missouri House voted Apr. 16 to ban transgender athletes from competing in sports based on their gender identity, according to local news outlet the Missouri Independent. The ban would apply to transgender athletes from sixth grade and up, the Kansas City Star reported.
“BREAKING: Kansas Republicans have successfully overridden the Governor veto to now authorize genital inspections of children in order for kids to play sports. A very dark & disturbing day. #ksleg,” the Twitter post, viewed over 17 million times, purports.
The claim is false. The bill’s text indicates that it bans transgender athletes from competing on female sports teams if they were born male. The bill applies from elementary school to college and directs the “Kansas State High School Activities Association (KSHSAA), the state board of regents and the governing body of universities and colleges to adopt regulations for implementing the law,” according to Reuters.
A letter included with the bill’s text indicates it was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Mar. 17, 2023. Support for the bill overrode Kelly’s veto on Apr. 5, Reuters reported. (RELATED: Did A Transgender MMA Fighter Fracture Their Opponent’s Skull?)
The bill was originally passed by the Kansas legislature on Mar. 9, the outlet reported in a previous article. The bill’s text does not specify how biological sex is determined.
Check Your Fact found no credible news reports indicating Kansas H.B. 2238 authorizes “genital inspections” of children in order for them to play sports. Likewise, there is no mention of “genital inspections” being included in the bill via the Kansas State Legislature’s website. In addition, Kansas State Republican Rep. Barb Wasinger has not publicly addressed the purported claim.
Check Your Fact has contacted Wasinger for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.