Patrick J. Boylan, a member of the Nevada State Higher Education Board of Regents, defended the comments he made on transgender student-athletes at the March 1 meeting, telling the RGJ he has no intention of resigning.
During a report from athletic directors, Boylan asked, “Do we have any men masquerading as women playing in any of our teams or hurting any of the women? Do we have that issue here in NSHE?”
He asked whether records were kept on transgender athletes, and if not, why. Michael B. Wixom, special counsel for the board of regents, responded that such a disclosure would violate federal privacy laws.
Boylan didn’t use the term “transgender,” which he later said he was unfamiliar with.
After being criticized during public comment for his questions, Boylan said he has a First Amendment right to speak freely.
“I see it as a man masquerading as a woman … he’s still a man,” Boylan said. “That’s the way I see it, that’s the way I’ll say it.”
A day after the Las Vegas meeting, the Nevada Faculty Alliance called on him to resign, and statements from fellow regents, student organizations and UNR President Brian Sandoval were sent condemning Boylan’s comments and expressing support for LGBTQ students.
Boylan blames ‘woke agendas’ for response
Boylan told the Reno Gazette-Journal that what he said was “turned around.”
“All I’ve ever done is talk about safety,” Boylan said. “My whole point was safety for female students and I will not resign because I’m standing up for women, because I’m standing up for athletes and I’m standing up for students. I will not resign because they have totally misconstrued what I was saying.”
Boylan said he was surprised the female regents did not ask more questions about the safety of female student athletes.
“I’m all for all students living happily, learning, being educated, not being used by all these ‘cancel culture’ and other woke agendas,” Boylan said. “They’re just using these students, my students I can say, and that’s wrong.”
Boylan was elected in 2020 to represent the district that includes parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas. He sits on the board’s security and audit, compliance and Title IX committees. His term expires in 2027.
Boylan said that as an elected board member, it would require a recall to remove him.
“The board cannot make me resign and no one can make me resign,” Boylan said.
“I am not against anyone racially, sexually, whatever, nothing of that sort. And anyone who really knows me will tell you that,” Boylan told the RGJ. “I totally believe in live and let live.”
Responses condemn comments, show support for LGBTQ students
Regents Chair Amy Carvalho and Vice Chair Jeffrey Downs sent out a statement on March 4, a day after the Nevada Faculty Alliances’ call for Boylan to step down:
“… (The) Board of Regents is dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and access,” it said. “Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect when participating in an NSHE public meeting or attending an NSHE campus, regardless of their gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, or any other individual characteristic.”
This week, both the Sandoval and Associated Students of the University of Nevada sent messages of support for gender-diverse students.
“There is no place for hurtful and abhorrent comments like those that were made. Trans and gender-diverse individuals have every right to feel welcome, safe, and seen on our college campuses,” Sandoval said in an email. “We are a much stronger institution when individuals who are at risk know they are supported by those around them.”
ASUN sent a statement: “We believe that every individual regardless of gender identity deserves to be treated with dignity, respect and empowerment,” and sent a link to campus resources for anyone who felt harmed by Boylan’s comments.
Jaedyn Young is a freelance reporter for the Reno Gazette-Journal.
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