If you interact with an employee of the state of Kansas, it is now illegal for them to disclose anything that would reveal their gender. Do not look at their photos, do not look at their names – these might inadvertently contain “gender ideology", which you mustn’t be exposed to. Exposure to “gender ideology” may result in tolerance and understanding – principles which ought to be avoided at all costs.
In addition to eliminating programs and grants funding DEI, Kansas Senate Bill 125 (SB 125) mandates that,
During fiscal year 2026, on or before August 1, 2025, the secretary of administration, in consultation with the governor's department, shall certify to the members of the state finance council that all state agencies have:
…
removed gender identifying pronouns or gender ideology from email signature blocks on state employee's email accounts and any other form of communication.
August 1st came and went along with a brazen display of cowardice by universities across the state who have, without question, decided to continue to threaten retaliation against their employees (and non-employees) who dare list these fundamental parts of speech in their communications. Wichita State (WSU) was one of the first to mandate pronoun removal, two weeks ahead of the July 31st deadline. The University of Kansas (KU), was a bit more bureaucratic in its official approach and adopted the guidance put out by the Kansas Board of Regents as their formal policy. In the background, however, KU decided to make more impactful changes. Despite promising incidental personal use by students would not be affected, the option on Canvas for students to list their pronouns on class rosters was disabled. Veritably, class rosters were not mentioned in the Senate Bill, and neither was a definition of what the state meant by “gender ideology”. Kansas State University (K-State), always having to one up everyone else, decided to put out their own definition along with a stricter directive requiring professors to remove things like progress pride flags from office door name plates.
'Gender ideology' refers to a belief that human individuals are properly described by their gender identity that may differ from their sex assigned at birth. Common ways of showing support for gender ideology include disclosing one’s gender identity or pronouns in everyday communication or the display of Progress Pride flags.
Formatting your signature in the face of all these regulations may seem daunting. Honorifics like Mr. and Ms. may get you in trouble for identifying someone’s gender and the consequences for messing up your signature are not clear. Luckily, schools like K-State have designed mandatory signature templates to help you stay in compliance. At the bottom they include space for optional disclosures. Some appropriate things to disclose, to make sure you are in clear compliance with the law, could include a statement of the law. Certainly the words of the legislature are not criminal.
weeklyrose@proton.me
SB 125 makes it illegal for a state employee's e-mail signature to say things like, "You can use the pronouns they/them to refer to me if you'd like to". Saying a thing like that would be wrong, so nobody should do it!
If you want to be more mysterious you could state
weeklyrose@proton.me
To comply with Kansas SB 125, my e-mail signature cannot tell you what pronouns to use when referring to me, so if you ever need to mention me in the third person please make your best guess!
It is important to remember that pronouns were not banned, only gender identifying pronouns, so this would be completely permissible.
weeklyrose@proton.me
Use plural non-ideological they/them pronouns for style points! This is a linguistic exercise and does not identify gender.
This would also be acceptable since any association between the pronouns in your email and your gender is purely coincidental.
weeklyrose@proton.me
Uses Non-Ideological Non-Gender Identifying they/them Pronouns.
If you are worried that that is still too identifying, any/all pronouns might be for you! They do not signify anything about your gender, and you do not need to use pronouns to state them!
The University of Kansas has adopted a policy distinguishing between incidental personal use of an email account, and official use. Sometimes it can be a little hard to tell the difference between the two, so to cover your bases, include this, or a variation, with every communication.
weeklyrose@proton.me
Incidentally, personally identified by they/them, unknowable when acting as an employee of the State of Kansas.
Your malicious compliance is paramount. K-State has said non-compliance will result in “restricted technology access and/or discipline in accordance with applicable university policies”. KU told supervisors to “contact HR”. So far, nothing has escalated past a “conversation”, but Kansas Universities are no stranger to retaliating against students and employees who voice opinions that contradict their menial policies. Having been cautioned, feel free to test this ill-defined “gendered” line and tune your protest to the sympathies of your supervisor. Professors with more protections should be emboldened to push further. Students who can be fired at will – and who might not be rehired due to the hiring freeze – should get more creative.
The Graduate Teaching Assistants Coalition at KU, in their open petition, clocked this bill as an effort to erase members of our community and exclude their participation. Students, faculty, staff, and community members must be willing to organize in opposition to these fascist impulses to regulate speech and expression. KU was already in the process of abandoning trans people and the humanities to cosy up with the legislature. Although they aren’t regulating the critical theory being taught in the classrooms today, they are certain to target it next. KU has already closed affordable Gender Inclusive Housing at the Grace Pearson Scholarship Hall, and the Center for Sexuality and Gender Diversity. K-State followed suit with the closure of the Spectrum Center. Our classrooms and healthcare are next.
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