By: Paul Goldberg, Senior Editor | JRL CHARTS — LGBT Politics USA
MANHATTAN, KS — (July 28, 2025) — Kansas public universities are terminating LGBTQ+ and DEI programs in response to a sweeping new budget law that critics are calling a veiled attack on free speech and inclusion. Senate Bill 125, signed into law in April, orders all state agencies — including colleges and universities — to end programs related to “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” It also bans gender pronouns in email signatures, a move that has stunned LGBTQ+ students and faculty alike.
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The vaguely worded provision, buried in the state’s 300-page budget bill, provides no clear definitions of “DEI” or “gender ideology,” but the chilling effect has already begun. Universities are scrambling to dismantle safe spaces and roll back progress made over decades.
At Kansas State University, officials confirmed that the beloved Spectrum Center, a dedicated resource hub for LGBTQ+ students, will close its doors at the end of July. Dean of Students Thomas Lane praised the center’s impact in a heartfelt campus-wide letter, stating:
“Through the dedication of its staff, and the strength of our LGBTQ+ students, faculty, staff, and allies, the center has contributed significantly to K-State’s national recognition as a campus that values LGBTQ+ students.”
Lane emphasized that while the Spectrum Center’s physical space is being shut down, the university remains committed to student support through the Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs. Still, students say the closure is a major loss — both symbolically and practically.
Meanwhile, at the University of Kansas, administrators issued a letter to students and faculty announcing the immediate suspension of all DEI activities and a deadline to remove pronouns from email signatures by July 31. The directive comes from the Kansas Board of Regents, enforcing the law signed by Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat who has previously supported LGBTQ+ rights but allowed this bill to become law.
The contradiction hasn’t gone unnoticed. Kelly, who vetoed multiple anti-trans bills in past sessions, has remained silent on the record regarding SB 125’s impact on LGBTQ+ students. Inside Higher Ed noted she did not respond to requests for comment on the new policy.
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