Kansas City's mayor worries that 'hateful rhetoric' from state lawmakers will drive people away

Mayor Quinton Lucas touts Kansas City's ability to attract big events like the NFL Draft and the 2026 World Cup. But he worries that the "hateful rhetoric" and anti-LGBTQ policies coming out of statehouses in Missouri and Kansas could drive some residents and major gatherings away.
State lawmakers in Topeka and Jefferson City have spent their respective legislative sessions mulling over bills that would ban transgender girls from girls' sports and limit gender affirming care for trans kids, among others.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says he is frustrated with this kind of legislation being pushed in Missouri and Kansas. Beyond his general disagreement with these bills, he also views them as "a true existential challenge" for Kansas City when it comes to attracting big events in the future.