Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Vetoes Bill Banning Transgender Children from School Sports Teams
In a bold move, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have banned transgender and some intersex children from playing on sex-segregated school sports teams. The governor, a Democrat, made it clear that he would not stand for any “anti-LGBTQ” legislation in his state.
The bill, which was passed by the state’s Republican-controlled legislature, aimed to designate sports teams as male, female, or mixed, based on children’s original birth certificates. This move was part of a larger trend of Republican-led efforts across the U.S. to regulate transgender individuals’ participation in sports.
Governor Evers’ veto was met with criticism from Representative Barbara Dittrich, a Republican co-author of the bill, who called it a “misogynistic and hateful position towards actual females.” She argued that the legislation aimed to protect the safety and merit of biological girls in sports.
However, Governor Evers stood firm in his decision, stating that Wisconsin would not be a state that targets LGBTQ individuals with discriminatory laws. He emphasized the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all residents.
The International Olympic Committee’s guidelines also emphasize the need to avoid presumptions of advantage based on an athlete’s physical appearance or gender identity. This aligns with the broader conversation around transgender inclusion in sports.
With the governor’s veto in place and no two-thirds majority in the legislature to override it, Wisconsin remains a state that prioritizes equality and acceptance for all its residents.