JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Kansas Republican lawmaker switches to Dem party, calls GOP's LGBTQ stance 'absurd'
December 16, 2018
Also takes issue with party position on Medicaid, gun control
Kansas State Sen. Barbara Bollier spent 43 years as a registered Republican and 10 years as a GOP lawmaker. But now she's switching parties because of Republicans' stance on LGBTQ issues and other causes.
"My moral compass is saying, 'I can't do this anymore,' and you throw that in with Donald Trump, and just from a moral position, I can't be complicit anymore," Bollier said in an interview with NBC News.
What happened?
Earlier this year, the Kansas Republican Party updated its platform with the following language: "We believe God created two genders, male and female. Therefore, as defined by the Kansas Constitution, the benefits and privileges of marriage exist only between one man and one woman."
"It's absurd," Bollier said.
She told NBC News:
When the party adopted an anti-transgender piece to their platform that really, as a physician, set me over the edge, because we have more than XX and XY, and gender is a very complicated and important thing.
Bollier has long reached across the political aisle and she endorsed Democrats Laura Kelly for governor and Sharice Davids for Congress. State Senate President Susan Wagle removed Bollier as vice chairwoman of the governing body's health committee in July after Bollier endorsed the two candidates.
The Kansas Republican Party earlier this year modified the wording of its platform to read: "We believe God created two genders, male and female. Therefore, as defined by the Kansas Constitution, the benefits and privileges of marriage exist only between one man and one woman."
What else did she complain about?
Bollier also told the news outlet she was opposed to the Kansas GOP's stance on Medicaid expansion and gun violence prevention matters.
She said gun violence is a "crisis, including suicide."
Bollier represents State Senate District 7, which she says is "very moderate" and has traditionally elected moderate Republicans for a long time." The district includes suburban areas of Kansas City.
Kansas Sen. Barbara Bollier, at odds with GOP over Trump, LGBT issues, turns Democrat https://t.co/SM7jCLTDZx
— The Kansas City Star (@KCStar) December 12, 2018
Want to leave a tip?
We answer to you. Help keep our content free of advertisers and big tech censorship by leaving a tip today.
Want to join the conversation?
Already a subscriber?
more stories
Sign up for the Blaze newsletter
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.
© 2024 Blaze Media LLC. All rights reserved.
Get the stories that matter most delivered directly to your inbox.
By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.