Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers (D) on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have banned high school transgender athletes in the state from competing on athletics teams that align with their gender identity.
“I will veto any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming place for LGBTQ people and kids,” he said before issuing his veto.The bill, which the Republican-controlled state legislature passed, would have forced trans and nonbinary students to play on teams that correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth.
“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,”
Evers, who had promised to veto the bill since its introduction, said in his veto message. Republicans in the state legislature don't have the votes needed to override the veto. At least 20 states have passed similar legislation.
