Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislation barring biological males from competing in female scholastic sports, saying he refused to align with states passing „radical policies targeting LGBTQ individuals.“
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislation barring biological males from competing in female scholastic sports, saying he refused to align with states passing “radical policies targeting LGBTQ individuals.”
The veto came as no surprise. The Democratic governor had repeatedly vowed to nix the measure, Assembly Bill 377, even before it had been formally approved by the state legislature’s Republican majority.
“This type of legislation, and the harmful rhetoric beget by pursuing it, 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,” Mr. Evers said in his Tuesday veto message.
The bill passed the House and Senate with no Democratic votes. Republicans control both houses of the legislature, but lack the two-thirds majorities in both houses needed to override Mr. Evers’ veto.
Dubbed the Save Women’s Sports Act, the bill would have designated school sports teams as male, female or coed, based on the sex of student-athletes as reflected on their birth certificates.
