Members of Utah's Home and Senate have voted to override Governor Spencer Cox's veto of a controversial invoice that bans transgender pupil athletes from taking part in ladies sports activities. The invoice, titled HB11, has been framed as a safety of girls's sports activities, however critics have known as it an "assault" on transgender kids.
At a particular assembly on Friday, the Utah Home handed the "Scholar Eligibility in Interscholastic Actions" invoice 56-18 in favor of the override, and the Senate voted 21-8.
The assembly was held after Cox vetoed the invoice on Tuesday, saying that solely 4 transgender kids within the state of Utah presently play sports activities, and solely one in every of them is a woman. The governor additionally famous the velocity of which the invoice was handed, the shortage of enter from the general public and the excessive charge of suicide amongst transgender youth.
"I'm not an skilled on transgenderism. I wrestle to grasp a lot of it and the science is conflicting. When doubtful nevertheless, I at all times attempt to err on the facet of kindness, mercy and compassion," Cox wrote in a letter explaining his determination. "If a veto override happens, I hope we will work to seek out methods to point out these 4 children that we love them they usually have a spot in our state."
Cox was the second governor this week to veto laws centered on transgender participation in sports activities. On Monday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb additionally vetoed a invoice banning transgender athletes from selecting their very own sports activities groups, saying he discovered no proof of unfairness.
However critics preserve payments like HB11 unfairly goal transgender kids underneath the guise that they make the taking part in subject uneven.
"Regardless of opposition from their very own governor, Utah legislators proceed to assault transgender kids," the Human Rights Marketing campaign mentioned in an announcement Friday. "Additional, the state is opening itself as much as authorized challenges, as have adopted related legal guidelines in different states. The Utah legislature ought to deal with the true points impacting Utahns, not needlessly assault a handful of susceptible kids who pose no risk and simply wish to play sports activities with their mates."
With out authorized challenges, the invoice will go into impact for the 2022-2023 college 12 months.
In accordance with the Related Press, Utah joins 11 different states with bans focusing on transgender athletes: Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia.