WICHITA, Kan. (KAKE) - Wichita East high schoolers used their first amendment rights and walked out of class Tuesday to stand up for transgender youth rights. 

Dozens of Wichita East students made their voices heard at a walkout in protest of a piece of anti-trans legislation that bans minors from receiving gender affirming care. That piece of legislation is Senate Bill 233, and has already received approval from the Kansas House and Senate. 

“This will cause suffering that cannot be overstated. This will cause suffering,” said sophomore Juan Carlos Garcia. 

Garcia spoke up at the protest, to tell his peers about the importance of gender affirming care. 

“I have hope that those I love and those that need it will get their treatment. I hope that they will feel comfortable and I know if this bill is passed then they won’t be able to,” said Garcia.

Miles Wilson organized the protest, and he shared his experience as a person in the transgender community. 

 

 

 

“I thought I would not make it past 14, but I am 17 now,” said Miles Wilson, junior at East. 

The students discussed how validating gender affirming care was, and in a world without gender affirming care, many believe that would lead to an increase of youth trans suicide. 

“I hope that people learn that the students of East High are not going to stand for discrimination and oppression and we support the trans community and the cis kids here stand in solidarity  with the trans community and the trans community here will not sit back and let people oppress us,” said Wilson. 

The bill that started the protest is currently sitting on Governor Kelly’s desk awaiting approval or veto. 

After chanting, holding signs, and having a great discussion, the students said the walk out was a success. 

“We deserve to feel safe in our bodies, we deserve autonomy. We deserve happiness, we deserve to grow up,” said Wilson.