Anti-trans Rep. Kera Birkeland resigns from Utah Legislature
Utah State Rep. Kera Birkeland, widely recognized for her sponsorship of legislation banning transgender girls from high school sports and regulating restroom access for transgender individuals, announced her resignation Thursday from the Utah Legislature. Birkeland, who won reelection in November, will step down effective January 10, 2025, just 11 days before the Utah Legislative General Session begins.
Birkeland first went up against trans girls in sports in 2021 when she introduced a bill titled “Save Women’s Sports Act” to the legislature and couched her arguments as a fight for the underdog — girls in sports — saying that the history of females participating in sports is a short one which is on the brink of being lost to transgender females.
“Females will be left as spectators in their own sports,” she warned.
That bill failed in 2021 as legislative leaders pulled all LGBTQ+-related bills from consideration. In 2022, however, she reintroduced the bill, which passed and survived a veto by Utah Gov. Spencer Cox.
Earlier this year, Birkeland led a resolution in a special session of the Utah Legislature to declare the state’s refusal to comply with a forthcoming federal rule extending antidiscrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students under Title IX. She criticized the Biden administration for “politicizing” Title IX protections — the federal directive aimed to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in schools. Birkeland’s resolution asserted that state laws restricting restroom access for transgender individuals and barring transgender girls from women’s high school sports take precedence.
In a social media post on Thursday, Birkeland explained her decision, citing the need to prioritize her family, particularly her aging parents. “My family and professional commitments have increasingly required my attention away from home, a trend I anticipate will persist for the next year or two,” she wrote in a resignation letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Schultz.
Reflecting on her legislative service, Birkeland expressed gratitude and fulfillment. “My time as a representative in the Utah House has been immensely fulfilling, bringing joy and passion,” she wrote. “Ultimately though, it is not the title that defines us, but rather the impact we make in uplifting those we serve.”
Birkeland’s tenure included notable milestones and controversies. Appointed in April 2020 to represent House District 4, which encompasses parts of Daggett, Duchesne, Morgan, Rich, and Summit counties, she successfully defended her seat in multiple elections, most recently securing 60 percent of the vote in November.
Her resignation coincides with her new role as director of policy for the Montana Grain Growers Association, a position she assumed in July but did not disclose in her required conflict of interest filing. Her next disclosure is due the same day her resignation takes effect.
In a statement, Schultz praised Birkeland’s contributions.
“Kera has been a fierce advocate for the people in House District 4 and for all Utahns. I’m proud to call her a colleague and, more importantly, a friend,” Schultz said.
Birkeland’s letter of resignation urged her successor to continue focusing on key legislative priorities, including tax relief, government accountability, election integrity, and protecting seniors. There was no direct mention of anti-transgender policies.
The process to select Birkeland’s replacement will be carried out by Republican delegates within District 4.
