Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes ban on transgender athletes competing in high school sports

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have banned high school transgender athletes from competing on teams that do not align with their gender at birth.

Evers, a Democrat, had promised to veto the bill since it was introduced by Republicans in the state legislature.

Republicans control the legislature and Democrats could not come up with the votes to prevent the bill's passage.

The state leader signed the veto in the Capitol flanked by Democratic lawmakers, transgender advocates and the mayor of the city of Madison.

Republicans in the legislature do not have the supermajority necessary to override Evers' veto.

Evers said Tuesday the bill '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.'

The bill had proposed to limit the ability of transgender high school athletes to compete on teams that align with their gender identity.

Evers called the proposed law a 'radical policy' that 'targeted LGBTQ individuals.' 

Wisconsin Republicans who backed the bill argued that it was meant to protect the fairness of competitive sports for non-transgender athletes.

However, opponents of the bill argued there was no concrete reason to force through the ban in Wisconsin, where they say there isn't an issue with transgender high school athletes and the bill is therefore a form of discrimination.

The state's interscholastic athletic association requires transgender athletes to undergo some amount of hormone therapy prior to the time they wish to compete on the teams of their choice.

The policy is modeled after a similar one for transgender NCAA athletes.

At least 20 US states have approved some version of a ban on school-aged transgender athletes.

A proposal from the Biden administration to forbid such legislation is heading toward finalization this year after several delays and forceful pushback.

The rule as it exists currently claims that blanket bans on transgender athletes playing on the teams of their self-identified gender violate Title IX, the gender-equity legislation that was enacted more than half-a-century ago.