In anticipation of a new Kansas law preventing residents from changing their gender identity on legal documents, a significant increase in gender marker changes on birth certificates and driver's licenses has been observed. This legislation, mirroring similar measures across the US, aims to restrict transgender rights regarding restroom access, locker rooms, and official identification.

The law, effective Saturday, clashes with a 2019 federal court order mandating the state to allow such changes. A conflict has arisen between Democratic Governor Laura Kelly and Republican Attorney General Kris Kobach, with the latter asserting the new law overrides the court order. Kobach has even suggested that recent gender changes might be reversed under the new law.

This image, provided by the Kansas Department of Revenue, shows a sample driver's license. The surge in gender changes on these documents underscores the impact of the impending legislation. (Kansas Department of Revenue via AP)

Amidst this legal uncertainty, organizations like Kansas Legal Services and LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have conducted informational sessions for transgender individuals on navigating the document changes. The law defines "sex" as a person's biological reproductive system at birth, directly impacting birth certificates and driver's licenses.

Statistics reveal a notable increase in gender changes on these documents. The number of birth certificate changes has risen to an average of 58 per month this year, compared to 13 per month from July 2019 through 2022. Similarly, driver's license changes have jumped to an average of 27 per month this year, up from 5.5 per month in the preceding period.

It's important to note that not all changes were related to transgender individuals. Some corrections were made for errors in initial recordings or for individuals born with intersex conditions. The upcoming law's impact on these situations remains unclear.

Personal accounts, like that of Jenna Bellemere, a transgender University of Kansas student who proactively changed her documents last year, highlight the anxiety and preemptive measures taken by those affected by the impending legislation.