Marcy Kaptur voted FOUR TIMES to allow boys in girls’ school sports — despite new ad claiming opposition
U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Toledo, says in a new campaign ad that “boys should not play in girls’ sports,” despite voting twice against federal legislation that would have restricted transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
“I voted with Republicans to keep transgender ideology out of our schools, because parents know what’s best for their kids, and boys should not play in girls’ sports,” Kaptur said in the ad.
Kaptur, however, voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act in 2023 and again in January 2025.
The legislation sought to amend Title IX to prohibit federally funded education programs from allowing a person whose sex is male based on reproductive biology and genetics at birth to participate in athletic programs designated for women or girls.
Kaptur is also a current co-sponsor of the Equality Act, including the current version introduced in Congress in April 2025.
The Equality Act would amend federal civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including federally funded programs, employment, housing and public accommodations. The bill defines sex for purposes of those protections to include sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
Kaptur has co-sponsored versions of the Equality Act introduced in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025. She also voted for the legislation when it passed the House in 2019 and again in 2021.
The Congressional Leadership Fund pointed to those votes and Kaptur’s Equality Act support after the release of her new campaign ad, arguing her congressional record conflicts with the position she expressed in the ad.
Kaptur also voted in 2024 against a congressional resolution seeking to overturn a Biden administration Title IX rule that expanded federal sex-discrimination protections to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Her recent record, however, has not been uniform on transgender-related legislation.
As Kaptur noted in her campaign ad, she voted with Republicans earlier this year for legislation addressing gender identity policies in schools. The measure included parental consent requirements related to a student’s name and pronouns and restrictions involving instruction on gender identity.
#OH09: Incumbent Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D) is up on TV with this response spot —
Kaptur to camera:
"We're stuck in another unnecessary war and inflation is making everything worse. But, my opponent won't talk about all that. He'd rather lie about my record"
"Well, here's the… pic.twitter.com/SncdXUndq4
— Medium Buying (@MediumBuying) September 17, 2026
Kaptur’s campaign has said decisions involving school sports should be made by parents, coaches and sports organizations at the state and local level rather than by federal lawmakers.
The ad has also drawn criticism from some Democrats and LGBTQ advocates over Kaptur’s comments about transgender students.
The Lucas County Stonewall Democrats and Lucas County Democratic Party called on Kaptur to pull the ad, according to WTVG.
Kaptur is seeking reelection in Ohio’s 9th Congressional District against Republican Derek Merrin in November.
