Representation Matters: Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer
This is part of The Humanist’s monthly series highlighting openly nonreligious elected officials across the nation. Because of the work of the Center for Freethought Equality, the political and advocacy arm of the American Humanist Association, there are over 120 elected officials at the local, state, and federal level who identify with the atheist and humanist community serving in thirty-four states across the country. Join the Center for Freethought Equality to help politically empower the atheist and humanist community—membership is FREE!
The Center for Freethought Equality’s advances have been groundbreaking. Prior to the 2016 election, there were only five state legislators and no members of Congress who publicly identified with our community; because of its efforts, today we have seventy-three state legislators and a member of Congress, Jared Huffman (CA-2), who publicly identify with our community. It is critical that our community connect and engage with the elected officials who represent our community and our values—you can see a list of these elected officials here.
Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer
Representing Kansas’ 29th district
“My values are rooted in doing what is right because that is how we should care for our fellow humans, not because I’m afraid of what may or may not happen in some sort of afterlife, or to please a higher power.”
Representative Heather Meyer was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives in a Special Election in 2021, and was re-elected to her seat in 2022. She serves as the Ranking Member on the Committee on Welfare Reform, and also serves on the Committees on Water and Insurance, respectively, and the 2024 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana. She also served on the 2023 Special Committee on Homelessness.
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Meyer grew up in Olathe, Kansas and has lived in Overland Park, Kansas for the last fifteen years with her spouse and two children. She attended Johnson County Community College and received her Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Kansas, where she is set to graduate with her Master’s in Social Work in May 2025.
Meyer’s experience being raised by a hardworking single father, who struggled to raise a family on a single working-class income, is what led her to a career in social work and public service.
During her time living in Overland Park, Meyer has been deeply involved in her local community, including through the PTA, Scouting, and volunteering within Overland Park’s local schools.
Sarah Levin: What motivated you to run for office?
Heather Meyer: I first ran unsuccessfully for office in 2014, but was elected to replace our State Representative in a Special Election in 2021, and went on to win re-election in 2022. I’m currently unopposed this cycle, which came as a huge surprise given that I’m an outspoken advocate for issues our Republican supermajority is vocally against. I really became involved in the process in my early 20’s when I volunteered for the Green Party, before I became a Democrat to caucus & volunteer for Barack Obama in 2008. After that election, I continued to use my advocacy and activism to flip our previously red county to blue, and volunteered for many local candidates and campaigns, as well as the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016.
When I was elected to my current position as State Representative, I came in with the purpose of using my personal and professional experiences to help give a voice to those who often feel voiceless or unheard by our political leaders. This is primarily because I was raised by a hardworking single father, and we regularly went without food, healthcare, and basic needs, often struggling to pay the bills.
Growing up in poverty, and then relying on safety net programs as a young adult, I was able to develop a unique understanding of how legislation can affect our most vulnerable, and I was tired of leaders who deliberately ignored and hurt the people in my community.
Beyond that, as a first generation college graduate/adult learner, Kansas’ first openly bisexual legislator, and a social worker, I felt that I could offer an even broader perspective on the legislation we often hear, and be a fighter for those who often don’t have the ability to share their experiences.
Levin: What are your policy priorities and how does your nonreligious worldview impact your policy platform?
Meyer: Throughout my life, first as an advocate and activist, and now as a sitting State Representative, I have continued to fight for Medicaid expansion; fully funding our public schools & blocking legislation that would use public tax dollars for religious and non-public school vouchers and programs; protecting reproductive rights; fighting for our LGBTQ community; supporting and expanding benefits for working class and low income families; legalizing cannabis; and truly representing the voices of my district and constituency.
My values are rooted in doing what is right because that is how we should care for our fellow humans, not because I’m afraid of what may or may not happen in some sort of afterlife, or to please a higher power. However, I do respect those who rely on guidance from their spiritual beliefs, as long as they do not attempt to harm others, interfere with social justice and equity, or undermine our right to freedom of (or from) religion.
Levin: Why was it important for you to be open about your nonreligious identity?
Meyer: I believe that it’s important for people to see that representation can and should come from folks from all walks of life and religious beliefs, including those of us who are nonreligious. I also feel strongly that we, as nonreligious representatives, should use our platform to show that just because someone does not follow religious dogma, does not mean that we lack morals, values, or ethics, but instead that we are stronger and more open to conversations and collaboration because we are not bound to a belief system which may not represent or reflect that of our community.
Levin: How did voters respond (if at all) to your openness about your nonreligious identity?
Meyer: To my knowledge, many voters in my district don’t focus on religious affiliation when making a choice on who should represent them, which I realize sounds odd considering that I’m from Kansas.
What’s also interesting is that the seat I hold was vacated by our previous Democratic State Representative, Brett Parker, so that he could take a position working for American Atheists. While some were disappointed by his departure, that didn’t seem to be reflective of his choice of employer, but rather because he had represented our district so well.
That said, I strongly believe that at our core, Kansans value diverse representation, including religious or nonreligious affiliation, as long as we are respectful of each other’s perspectives, and truly work on behalf of the people we represent. However, I’m also lucky to live in one of the most populated areas of the State (the KC Metro, which includes Overland Park), where we have a much more diverse population, so that is definitely a factor in people’s willingness to accept my nonreligious beliefs as well.
But unfortunately, that is not a universal experience for most Kansans. Because of that reality, I try to remain mindful of the privilege I hold, which allows me to be an openly nonreligious, openly queer, progressive voice in the Kansas Legislature.
To learn more about Kansas State Representative Heather Meyer: