Members of the Utah House and Senate have voted to overturn Governor Spencer Cox’s veto of a controversial bill banning transgender student athletes from participating in women’s sports. The bill, entitled HB11, has been framed as a protection of women’s sports, but critics have called it an “attack” on transgender children.
On Friday, in a special meeting, the Utah House passed Bill 56-18 “Eligibility of Students in Interscholastic Activities” in favor of the repeal, and the Senate voted 21-8.
The meeting was held after Cox vetat the bill Tuesday, saying only four transgender children in the state of Utah play sports, and only one of them is a girl. The governor also noted the speed with which the bill was passed, the lack of public input and the high suicide rate among transgender youth.
“I’m not a transgender expert. I have a hard time understanding it and science is conflicting. However, when in doubt, I always try to make mistakes on the side of kindness, mercy, and compassion,” Cox said. he wrote in a letter explaining his decision. “If a veto is lifted, I hope we can work to find ways to show these four children that we love them and that they have a place in our state.”
Cox was the second governor this week to veto legislation focused on transgender participation in sports. On Monday, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb also vetoed a bill banning transgender athletes from choosing their own sports teams, saying he found no evidence of injustice.
But critics say bills like HB11 unfairly target transgender children under the pretext of making the playing field uneven.
“Despite opposition from its own governor, Utah lawmakers continue to attack transgender children,” the Human Rights Campaign said in a statement on Friday. “In addition, the state is opening up to legal challenges, as similar laws have followed in other states. The Utah legislature should focus on the real issues affecting Utah residents, not unnecessarily attacking a a handful of vulnerable children who pose no threat and just want to play sports with their friends. “
Without legal challenges, the bill will enter into force in the 2022-2023 academic year.
According to the Associated Press, Utah joins 11 other states with bans on transgender athletes: Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Idaho, IowaMontana, South DakotaTennessee and West Virginia.
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