Pastor Adam Hamilton, a Democrat running for the U.S. Senate in Kansas, said during Wednesday's debate with Republican Sen. Roger Marshall that he opposes allowing males to compete in girls' sports, and also acknowledged there are only two genders. The megachurch pastor debated the incumbent Marshall on Wednesday evening at an event moderated by John Holt of Kansas City-based Fox 4 News.
When the discussion turned to Title IX civil rights law and women's sports, Holt asked Hamilton and Marshall how many genders exist. Hamilton, who pastors Resurrection Church, a multisite United Methodist congregation based in Leawood, Kansas, responded that he believes "there are two genders, male and female." Marshall, an OB-GYN, agreed, noting that as a doctor, he had delivered plenty of boys and girls.
Asked whether boys who identify as female should be allowed to compete in girls' sports, Hamilton reaffirmed his past opposition. "I have a 12-year-old granddaughter," Hamilton responded. "I don't want biological men or boys competing against her that could harm her. That's not a fair fight." While Marshall has championed federal legislation on the issue, Hamilton said "local organizations should be determining that issue," not the federal government.
Marshall warned that Senate Democrats led by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., are trying to push "transgender ideology," and he said Hamilton would join them if elected. "He's going to say he's going to vote against these things, but every Democrat stands up and when Schumer tells them to jump, they say 'how high?'" Marshall said. "So, why is he going to be any different once he gets to Washington?
He can tell us one thing, but let's [see] what his actions would be like."