The Silence of the Allies
Where are KC business leaders in the fight against trans bans?
If for some reason you’ve been following my LinkedIn posts of late, you’ll notice that I’ve been writing about the issue of trans bans in Kansas and Missouri and the human and economic damage they will inflict on the KC region. What you will not notice, because it isn’t there, is any KC business leader speaking up on behalf of the lives and rights of trans people or speaking out against the economic harm these trans bans will inflict. I’ve searched. I cannot find an article or a post by any KC business leader speaking out against these bans. Not a damn one.
Deadly Consequences
Let’s be clear. The bills currently being passed in Kansas and Missouri are damaging and dehumanizing. They take away the rights of transgender kids and their parents to provide medically approved care. Transgender kids and teens are already at high risk for bullying and suicide. Without access to gender-affirming care, those suicide rates will increase.
Billions in Economic Costs
These bills also hurt our region’s reputation We won’t be able to attract trans people or retain families with trans kids. Those families are already making plans to flee our region. They will relocate to states that allow them to provide appropriate medical care that their kids’ lives depend on.
We will also lose out on the ability to attract major events, like the World Cup, because those organizations do not want to be associated with states that pass bigoted, dehumanizing legislation. The economic cost to our region will be measured in billions of dollars. That’s the reality in other regions where similar legislation has been adopted or is being considered:
Performative Posts
You would think that with these kinds of consequences on the line, business leaders in the region might be more outspoken and organized in their opposition. So far, they haven’t shown any evidence of that. Now, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a handful of tepid social media posts by KC companies with trans flags in them. Just enough to check the box of LGBTQI+ support and to appease the beleaguered DEI professionals working in their organizations.
No Meaningful Opposition
I can find no meaningful opposition from the business community to these misguided and damaging bills. No prominent business leader has stuck their head above the parapet to declare, “This is wrong!” No group of concerned business leaders with status, money, and political clout has formed to push back against these bigoted bills. So much for all those corporate DEI charters.
Do They Not Care?
It may be that the issue of trans children’s rights just doesn’t matter to them. After all, trans people are a relatively small percentage of the population, and many people don’t have trans kids or may not have friendships with trans people. This issue may just be one of those things that business leaders feel doesn’t concern them or their business, so they’re not paying attention.
Or Are They Afraid
But in the current political climate it’s equally likely that they fear political reprisal. In the “anti-woke” era, where politicians like DeSantis are punishing corporations like Disney for opposing Don’t Say Gay bills and stripping liquor licenses for hotels hosting drag shows, you can hardly blame business leaders for wanting to stay silent.
“We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.” ― Elie Wiesel
A Mouse Shall Lead Them
But when Governor DeSantis tried to punish Disney, Disney didn’t cower. They arranged to host a major summit on gay rights. And they outwitted DeSantis to boot, by pre-emptively stripping his commission’s power to regulate the district where the company resides.
It’s notable that the Disney company was born here in Kansas City. It’s sad that we don’t see the type of moral clarity, business savvy, and courage that Disney is now demonstrating here in KC’s business community today.
