Kansas Law Could Bar Minors From Accessing LGBTQ Websites

Kansas lawmakers have approved a bill that could consider a non-explicit photo of two men simply holding hands as “pornographic.” Democrats in the state say the legislation, aimed at barring minors from accessing online material considered “harmful to minors,” could have unintended consequences for queer people. https://twitter.com/KCStar/status/1778440405723271425 From the Kansas City Star:

The bill would require users to verify they are over 18 years old to enter any website where more than 25% of its content is deemed “harmful to minors.” It aims to restrict children’s access to pornography.

However, homosexuality is listed in the statute alongside overtly sexual acts as harmful to minors.

The statute has raised questions about whether the law could be applied to censor LGBTQ+ content in books, chat rooms, and non-explicit photographs of same-sex couples.

Part of the bill targets “sexual conduct” which includes in its definition “acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse or physical contact with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals or pubic area or buttocks or with a human female’s breast.” So, just being gay (homosexuality) is “sexual conduct?” You’ll note that while homosexuality is included in the definition of “sexual conduct,” “heterosexuality is not. Under this legislation, would Kansas teens be barred from accessing TRR since this whole site is about “homosexual” news and entertainment? Regular readers here are aware of the extensive efforts across the country to limit LGBTQ expression. Earlier this week, I reported that nearly half of the books “challenged” as offensive at libraries are LGBTQ-themed. This bill, passed with bipartisan support, was sent to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s desk last week. If Gov. Kelly signs the bill into law, Kansas would join eight states in restricting minors’ access to explicit online content. https://twitter.com/AlliRaine22/status/1773085959929610479