How did Kansas and Missouri members of Congress vote on banning trans women athletes?

The House on Thursday passed legislation to prevent trans women and girls from participating in high school and collegiate sports, with Kansas and Missouri lawmakers split along party lines on an issue currently fueling the political culture wars.

Every Kansas and Missouri Republican voted in support of the bill, which would prevent any school that receives federal funding from allowing people who were born male from participating in an athletic program or activity designated for women and girls. The two Democrats from the Kansas City area — Reps. Emanuel Cleaver and Sharice Davids — voted against the bill.

The legislation has little chance of being considered in the Democratic-controlled Senate, but is part of a larger messaging push by conservatives, as they’ve reignited a push to restrict LGBTQ rights, particularly as schools have moved to become more accepting.

“This is not about hate, this is about love,” said Rep. Mark Alford, a Missouri Republican, in a floor speech Wednesday. “This is about love for our country, love for the advancement that women have made, and love for sanity. Lets give women the protection that they deserve and the protection that they have earned.”

While polling has found that a majority of Americans approve of banning transgender women from participating in women’s high school and college sports, Democrats have largely opposed these bans on human rights grounds, saying it discriminates against transgender students.

“Kansas students should feel safe and secure at school, and decisions on what’s best for them should be made by their parents, along with their teachers and doctors, not by blanket rules from politicians,” Davids said. “With rising costs, families are facing many challenges right now, and people would be best served if Congress focused on those issues—not invasive policies that harm our children.”

The legislation comes as statehouses across the country have introduced and passed a wave of bills aimed at restricting transgender rights, particularly when it comes to transgender youth.

Earlier this month the Kansas Legislature overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto and banned transgender women and girls from participating in women’s school sports.

In Missouri, both the House and Senate have passed their own version of a ban, but have not yet agreed on the language.

The bills target a relatively small group of people. In Kansas there are only three students between kindergarten and high school who would be affected. In Missouri, there have been 13 approved applications for transgender students to participate in an activity that matches their gender identity — nine have been transgender males and four have been transgender females.

The Department of Education last week said it would institute rules to prevent the states from passing blanket bans preventing transgender athletes from playing in sports that match their gender identity. Instead, the Biden administration said any restrictions would have to take into account the sport, competitiveness and grade level involved.

The House bill, which passed 219-203, will now go to the Senate, where it is unlikely to pass.

How they voted

A yes vote means the lawmaker voted to prevent transgender girls and women from participating in school sports.

Kansas

Rep. Tracey Mann — Yes

Rep. Jake LaTurner — Yes

Rep. Sharice Davids — No

Rep. Ron Estes — Yes

Missouri

Rep. Cori Bush — Did not vote

Rep. Ann Wagner — Yes

Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer — Yes

Rep. Mark Alford — Yes

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver — No

Rep. Sam Graves — Yes

Rep. Eric Burlison — Yes

Rep. Jason Smith — Yes

Star reporter Kacen Bayless contributed reporting.