Will Kansas Elect Its First Trans Person to State Legislature?
It's been a good week for Kansas state legislature candidate Stephanie Byers. Yesterday, the LGBTQ Victory Fund-endorsed candidate won her primary for a Kansas state House seat and is on-track to become the first out trans person ever elected to public office in Kansas.
Byers was unopposed in the primary and her Democratic-leaning district makes her the favorite to win the general election in November.
"Stephanie has shattered a long-standing political barrier in Kansas and is poised to join a small but growing number of out trans state legislators across the country. At a time when trans people are targeted with hateful policies and legislation by the Trump administration and in so many state legislatures, Stephanie's race is a powerful reminder of where our country is headed," said
Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of the LGBTQ Victory Fund. "Stephanie's victory, like every victory for a trans candidate, will inspire more trans leaders to run for office in their communities and that will be transformative."
Stephanie Byers is the recipient of the GLSEN-Kansas state Educator of the Year and the GLSEN National Educator of the Year, and recently retired after 29 years of teaching for Wichita Public Schools. Since coming out publicly as a transgender woman, she has advocated about issues impacting the LGBTQ community.
"It has been an incredible and amazing journey living in Kansas for the last three decades," says Byers. "It's my sincere hope to take the experience I've gained working in public schools, combining it with the passion of activism I've embraced, and become a legislator in the Kansas House of Representatives that you can be proud of."
Only four out trans people have been elected to serve in state legislatures and all still hold their seats. Virginia Delegate Danica Roem became the first out trans person to win and serve in a state legislature when she was elected in 2017. Currently there are just 26 out trans people serving at any level of government in the United States.
Only two openly LGBTQ people have ever been elected to the Kansas state legislature — Representatives Susan Ruiz and Brandon Woodard. There are currently just 11 openly LGBTQ elected officials in the entire state.