In Wisconsin, the governor vetoed a bill that would have banned high school transgender athletes from competing on teams aligning with their gender identity. Had it passed, the bill would have limited high school athletes to only play on teams matching the gender they were assigned at birth.
The bill – which passed the Legislature controlled by rightwing Republican Party – was called by Gov. Tony Evers as harmful to LGBTQIA Wisconsinites.
According to Evers, this type of legislation “harms LGBTQ Wisconsinites’ and kids’ mental health, emboldens anti-LGBTQ harassment, bullying, and violence, and threatens the safety and dignity of LGBTQ Wisconsinites, especially our LGBTQ kids.”
He added that he would veto “any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming place for LGBTQ people and kids.”
Democrats do not have the votes to stop the bill’s passage in the Legislature, but with the veto, Republicans do not have the votes needed to override the veto.
Currently, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association requires transgender athletes to undergo hormone therapy before being allowed to play on the teams of their choice. This policy was modeled after NCAA requirements for transgender athletes.
To date in the US, 20 states already ban transgender athletes from playing on K-12 and collegiate sports teams.
