MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature on Tuesday. high school transgender athletes from competing on teams that match their gender identity.
It never happened promised to veto from the day the bill was introduced. Democrats did not have the votes to stop it from passing the legislature. He vetoed it in the Capitol, surrounded by Democratic lawmakers, transgender advocates, Madison’s mayor and others.
Republicans do not have the votes needed to override the veto.
Evers said in his veto message that such legislation “harms the mental health of LGBTQ Wisconsinites and children, fuels anti-LGBTQ harassment, violence and abuse, and threatens the safety and dignity of LGBTQ Wisconsinites, especially our LGBTQ children.”
As governor, Evers vowed not to allow “radical policies that target LGBTQ individuals and families and threaten the everyday lives of LGBTQ people and their ability to feel safe, valued, supported and accepted for who they are.”
The bill proposed restricting high school athletes from playing on teams that match their birth gender.
Republicans who supported the bill argued that it was a matter of fairness for non-transgender athletes. But opponents of the bill argued that Wisconsin has no problem with transgender high school athletes and said the proposed ban is a form of discrimination and harmful to transgender youth.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association requires Transgender athletes must undergo hormone therapy before playing on their chosen teams. The association’s policy is modeled after this NCAA requirements for transgender athletes.
At least 20 states have approved some version of a ban on transgender athletes playing on K-12 and statewide collegiate sports teams, but A proposal from the Biden administration Banning such open bans will be finalized this year after numerous delays and many pushbacks. As proposed, the rule would specify that there would be general prohibitions Violate Title IXA landmark gender equality law passed in 1972.
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