Kansas senators push transgender athlete debate to new extremes in override of governor’s veto

by Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Kansas senators pushed debate over a proposed ban on transgender athletes to new extremes Tuesday involving the University of Kansas championship-winning men’s basketball team and child genital inspections.

The Senate — which has repeatedly debated the issue over the past two sessions — then voted 28-10 to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of Senate Bill 160.

Sen. Brenda Dietrich, R-Topeka, joined Democrats in supporting the governor’s veto.

Republicans say they are promoting fairness in competition, even though the model legislation is rooted in anti-LGBTQ initiatives. Democrats say support for the bill is actually motivated by politics and hate.

The legislation requires participation in school activities, beginning at kindergarten, to align with a student’s “biological sex.” Opponents of the bill question how gender disputes will be resolved.

Sen. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, referred to the legislation as the “Kansas Public School Children’s Genitalia Inspection Act.”

“The Kansas Legislature is better than this,” Holland said.

Sen. Molly Baumgardner, R-Louisburg, asked senators to think about the members of the KU men’s basketball team whose national championship was celebrated at the Statehouse on Monday.

“I want you to close your eyes for just a moment, and I want you to think about what if a couple of years from now we’re recognizing the women’s national basketball team, but in fact, several of those players are the same gentlemen that we saw yesterday,” Baumgardner said. “Because that is exactly what’s happening in our universities. We have students, male students, that are competing freshman, sophomore and junior year, and then their senior year, they’re competing on the women’s team. They are breaking all the records, leaving the women in the dust. That is what this piece of legislation is about.”

Baumgardner offered no example of universities or athletes to support her claim.

At the high school level, there is just one transgender girl participating in any school activity in Kansas, according to LGBTQ advocates.

It isn’t clear whether there is enough support in the House to complete the override of the governor’s veto, which requires the votes of two-thirds of both chambers.

The Senate debate included several references to a hate-filled email sent by Rep. Cheryl Helmer, R-Mulvane, to a transgender graduate student at KU.

In the email, first reported by Kansas Reflector, Helmer said she didn’t appreciate sharing a bathroom with a “huge transgender female” at the Statehouse, an apparent reference to Rep. Stephanie Byers, a Wichita Democrat. Helmer also said she entered the men’s restroom to make a point, falsely claimed many school-age girls have been sexually assaulted in bathrooms by transgender people, and complained that transgender athletes were cheating.

“Instead of writing about me in Topeka, I thought The Reflector News would be informing Topeka about all the plane loads of Mexico Illegal Immigrants that have arrived in the last few days,” Helmer wrote in a post on her personal Facebook page. “They are staying at a downtown hotel at taxpayer expense ($800) per room, plus all free meals and free laundry. And they have those nice big I-phones!”

In the Senate debate, Sen. Virgil Peck, R-Havana, said it was unacceptable that girls participating in sports could have boys in their locker rooms and showers.

“I’m amazed that we’re not hearing from more of those who are, if you will, feminists, standing up for young ladies,” Peck said. “We heard during the veto message that Senate Bill 160 is about scoring political points. If doing the right thing is, quote, trying to score political points, closed quote, count me in. I will do the right thing, and I will take the political points that come along with doing the right thing.”

Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, D-Lenexa, characterized the issue as a battle between love and fear.

History is full of examples of what happens when fear drives decisions, Sykes said.

“I will act with love toward children who are labeled and dismissed, and their humanity is disregarded,” Sykes said. “I will act with love toward my colleague across this building whose dignity was ignored yesterday. I will act with love and charity to the one Kansan that this bill will prevent from participating in sports.”

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
See more at https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/26/kansas-senators-push-transgender-athlete-debate-to-new-extremes-in-overrideof-governors-veto/

$1.5 million awarded for internet access for students in the 3rd District

Funding awarded to five local schools or districts through the American Rescue Plan

Five school districts in the 3rd Congressional District will receive a grant from the Federal Communication Commission’s Emergency Connectivity Fund program to help students access the internet while attending school from home, according to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist.

The $1.5 million in federal funding, part of the American Rescue Plan, will help cover costs of laptop and tablet computers, Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers and broadband connectivity purchases for students and school staff, according to a spokesman.

The five schools or school districts in the 3rd Congressional District receiving funding include:

• Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in Kansas City, Kansas: $7,971
• Kansas City, Kansas, Unified School District 500: $846,640
• Olathe Unified School District 233: $155,136
• Piper Unified School District 203: $261,293
• Turner Unified School District 202: $240,000

Rep. Davids, vice chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, stated that 173,000 Kansans lack home broadband service and 307,000 don’t have access to reliable internet. In total, Kansas will receive $27,055,209 to help close that digital divide through the ECF program. Rep. Davids was the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the American Rescue Plan.

Last summer, Rep. Davids asked schools and libraries to apply for funding from the ECF program.

“Over the past two years, I have heard from many Kansas parents and teachers about children struggling in school due to unreliable or unavailable internet access,” Rep. Davids said. “As our community continues to rebound from the pandemic, and as technology becomes increasingly important to education, we must ensure every student has the tools to succeed. I am proud to have voted for the American Rescue Plan and will continue advocating for our schools and our students.”

“Technology and internet access has become increasingly important in our everyday lives. Lack of high-speed Internet access can negatively impact so many areas of our lives – economic growth, household income, educational performance, healthcare access and employment opportunities. As such, having access to high-speed, reliable internet is key for our students’ success” said Dr. Anna Stubblefield, superintendent for Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools. “The digital divide affects children’s education in ways that extend far beyond the classroom experience. Our students and families are grateful for the additional funding to help ensure they have access to technological devices and internet connectivity that keep them engaged and connected in and out the classroom.”

“The pandemic and subsequent onset of remote learning brought to the forefront what an important and powerful tool up-to-date technology is in the education of our students,” said Dr. Jessica Dain, superintendent of Piper USD 203. “Maintaining the technology needed for our students comes with a large price tag which makes staying up-to-date a financial challenge for a district of our size. We are appreciative of the financial support to ensure that our students have the resources they need to be successful in the classroom.”

“During the pandemic, teachers worked tirelessly to bring outstanding instruction into the home of each child. Providing high-quality devices to each student was a necessary step to ensure that all children had access to the content created by their teachers,” said Dr. Jason Dandoy, superintendent of Turner Unified School District 202. “Going forward, many of these classroom resources will continue to be used to intervene and enrich the educational experiences of our students. Funds provided through the FCC ECF program will allow children to continue to take learning home as a supplement to the brick-and-mortar classroom environment.”

Rep. Davids has been a strong advocate for schools and students during the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting El Centro Academy for Children and Johnson County Community College to highlight American Rescue Plan support. This support included:


• Voting to send $831 million to Kansas schools to help keep schools open safely, keep teachers on payroll, and support students through the pandemic;
• Allocating $325 million for Kansas Higher Education institutions, at least half of which must be distributed to students in the form of emergency grants to prevent hunger, homelessness, and other hardships caused by COVID-19;
• Providing $349 million in supplemental funding for child care in Kansas to help child care providers keep their doors open and reduce costs for struggling families;
• Distributing $8 million in emergency funding for Kansas Head Start to maintain access to services for children and families.

Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools district plans to use this federal funding to purchase 150 MacBook Airs and 200 Wi-Fi Hotspots for school buses.

Blue Devil 5K registration open

A Kansas City Kansas Community College tradition returns this spring with the 2022 Blue Devil 5K.


The Blue Devil 5K begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, May 7. The course winds through the KCKCC campus on the roads, walking paths and sidewalks.

The Kids Trot follows at 9 a.m. and is geared toward children 11 years and younger. Children will run according to age groups, and distances will range from 25 meters to one-quarter of a mile. No strollers are allowed.

Childcare volunteers will provide activities for the children from 7:30 to 9 a.m., so parents can participate in the run-walk.

Registration for the 5K is $25 per person. The Kid’s Trot is $12. Registration for both the Blue Devil 5K and the Kid’s Trot includes a T-shirt, Finisher’s Medal, Goodie Bag and an all-you-can eat pancake breakfast following the event.

Awards will be given to the top overall male and female finishers. In addition, the winner of each age group will receive an award and a prize.

Information about the Blue Devil 5K can be found on the KCKCC Wellness and Fitness Center website. Information is also available by calling the KCKCC Wellness & Fitness Center at 913-288-7610. An entry form must completed for each registrant. Registration can be completed online.

Those who are interested in volunteering may find out about volunteer opportunities by calling 913-288-7283 or at [email protected].

  • Story from Kelly Rogge, KCKCC public information manager