Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes ban on transgender athletes competing in high school sports as Riley Gaines and Libs of TikTok slam politician for not caring if 'daughters get beat up'

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. 

High-profile dissenters to Evers' veto include former NCAA swimming champ Riley Gaines, who is one of 16 female athletes currently suing the NCAA for allowing trans athletes to compete.

'If you live in WI, contact your state rep/senator. The veto can be overridden with a 2/3 majority ... Public opinion/public outrage matters,' she wrote on X.

'This is Gov Evers 188 veto since taking office, the most vetoes issued by a Wisconsin governor in history. He couldn't represent Wisconsin values/priorities any less if he tried. Vote this fool out.'

Evers, 72, has served as the state's governor since 2019. He was previously the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. 

Since the time that the ban bill was introduced last year, Evers had promised to veto it, along with a second bill that would ban gender reassignment treatments for minors.

Republicans pursued the legislation because they believe it is 'the right thing to do for Wisconsin,' said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

During testimony last year, state Representative Joel Kitchens said: 'Men have major physical advantages. They're bigger, they're stronger, they're faster.'

'Title IX was created so that women can have the same access to the same advantages, the same character building that takes place (in sports) that men always have experienced.' 

In response to Evers' veto, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk argued that the governor would 'rather your daughter was beat up and injured by a boy in a dress than offend someone's feelings.'

'The Democrats are an anti-child, anti-science, anti-woman cult.'

Conservative radio host and former head of the NRA Dana Loesch wrote: 'Tony Evers hates females. Behold, the progressive patriarchy.'

Libs of TikTok, Chaya Raichik, wrote in response to the veto: 'Democrats don't care if your young daughter gets beat up by a boy competing on a girl's sports team. 

'They don't care if a boy wins and takes the titles and spots that should belong to your daughter who worked hard to compete and play.'