Kansas Democrat opposes transgender women and girls joining gender-based sports teams

Former U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda, a Democratic candidate in the 2nd District, issued a statement opposing the opportunity for transgender girls to comete in girl's sports. She lost a Democratic Party LGBTQ caucus endorsement, which went to Democratic rival Matt Kleinmann. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA — The chair of the LGBTQ+ caucus of the Kansas Democratic Party assailed as “hateful garbage” U.S. House candidate Nancy Boyda’s opposition to participation by transgender females in organized athletics programs designated for girls or women.

Boyda said in a statement touting her 2nd District congressional campaign that she objected to transgender girls joining other girls on sports teams. She clarified in an interview that she was primarily interested in excluding post-puberty transgender females from programs segregated by gender for girls or women.

Brandie Armstrong, chair of the state party’s caucus, said Boyda’s decision to sidestep the Kansas Democratic Party’s platform and reject placement of transgender girls in competition with other girls necessitated action by the caucus to endorse Boyda’s opponent in the August primary. Armstrong asserted Boyda’s campaign statement made transgender children a political punching bag in her campaign.

“Unless a candidate in a primary is LGBTQ+, we typically choose not to endorse,” Armstrong said. “But her statement starts out by attempting to portray herself as an ally, then it takes a hard detour into transphobia. That’s not okay and we refuse to sit back silently and let her spew this hateful garbage without any repercussions.”

Armstrong said the caucus endorsed Democratic candidate Matt Kleinmann, a Kansas City, Kansas, community health development organizer. He played collegiate basketball at the University of Kansas.

Kleinmann said the caucus endorsement was appreciated. He expressed support for action by the administration of President Joe Biden to protect transgender rights. He praised the decision by Gov. Laura Kelly to veto a bill forbidding transgender girls or women from competing on teams with other girls or women. He said decisions about involvement of transgender youth in sports ought to be made at the local level by athletic associations and leagues.

“In contrast to my opponent’s comments, my goal is to build a future Kansas that works towards our shared goals where everyone can thrive in a welcoming environment,” Kleinmann said. “We shouldn’t be discriminating against anyone.”

He said the 2024 congressional campaign ought to be about lowering the cost of living, raising the minimum wage, increasing access to affordable housing and health care, and protecting reproductive freedom.

Pushing ‘too far’

Boyda, who served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2009 after defeating GOP incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Ryun, released a statement June 24 that said most female athletes and their families sought a fair playing field in sports competition.

She said protections crafted by the Biden administration to shield transgender student rights under Title IX were warranted, but allowing transgender girls to match skills with other girls jeopardized the competitive balance of sports.

“All the practice time, all the trips, all the family commitment, they fear, may go out the door,” Boyda said. “In contrast to the platform of the Kansas Democratic Party, I do not support trans girls competing in girls’ sports.”

In an interview Tuesday, Boyda said she wasn’t intent on depriving young transgender girls of opportunities to play sports. She was dedicated to preventing transgender females in high school and college — with puberty serving as the dividing line — from competing against other females in school or recreational leagues.

Sports governing bodies that declined to properly assign these more mature transgender females inflamed public opinion against the entire transgender community, she said.

“This is pushing Kansans too far,” Boyda said. “You’re heading toward a train wreck.”

Drawing line at puberty

Boyda’s original campaign statement on transgender sports referenced her decision years ago to break with the Democratic Party regarding reform of federal immigration law. She mentioned her son’s decision to come out as gay when he was a teenager. Included in the release was a reminder she advocated for repeal of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, arguing “people should be able to live the life they want without the government interfering.”

She acknowledged transgender males and females were often isolated and lonely. She described suicide rates among transgender individuals as heartbreaking.

“I firmly believe what consenting adults do in their bedrooms is their own business and I believe that trans people should be protected from harm,” Boyda said. “When it comes to trans girls in sports, however, the issue is no longer about a private relationship between consenting adults. There are others involved and I believe their voices need to be heard.”

She urged Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and House Speaker Dan Hawkins, R-Wichita, to work in the Kansas Legislature for passage of state laws capable of protecting transgender Kansans.

“We know there are plenty of people who really do hate and who will act violently against trans people,” Boyda said.

In the 2023 legislative session, Masterson, Hawkins and other GOP leaders in the Legislature passed the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” Kelly’s veto of that bill was overridden, and Kansas law mandates transgender athletes compete from kindergarten through college based on gender declarations at birth.

Supporters said it was imperative the state require student athletics teams of girls and women be comprised exclusively of people who were “biologically” female. In part, the argument was transgender women and girls possessed physical advantages over cisgender women and girls.

During the 2024 session, the Legislature failed to override Kelly’s veto of a bill forbidding youth from receiving transgender medical care. Kelly said Kansas would have the best schools on the planet if the Legislature “paid this much attention to the other 99.8% of students.”

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