Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb on Monday vetoed HEA 1041 (full text) which bans transgender females from competing on female interscholastic athletic teams. In his veto letter (full text), the Governor said in part:
[T]he presumption of the policy laid out in HEA 1041 is that there is an existing problem in K-12 sports in Indiana that requires further state government intervention. It implies that the goals of consistency and fairness in competitive female sports are not currently being met. After thorough review, I find no evidence to support either claim even if I support the overall goal.
AP reports on the governor's action.
Meanwhile, yesterday Utah Governor Spencer Cox vetoed H.B.11 (full text) which similarly prohibited transgender females from competing on female interscholastic athletic teams. The bill provided that if this ban was struck down by the courts, a School Activity Eligibility Commission would be created to determine the eligibility for gender-specific teams of students who are undergoing gender transition. The Commission would establish a baseline range of physical characteristics for different sports and ages to use in making its determinations.
Governor Cox issued a lengthy and detailed veto letter (full text), which reads in part:
Because the bill was substantially changed in the final hours of the legislative session with no public input and in a way that will likely bankrupt the Utah High School Athletic Association and result in millions of dollars in legal fees for local school districts with no state protection, and for several other reasons below, I have chosen to veto this bill....
Four kids and only one of them playing girls sports. That’s what all of this is about. Four kids who aren’t dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day. Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few. I don’t understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live. And all the research shows that even a little acceptance and connection can reduce suicidality significantly. For that reason, as much as any other, I have taken this action in the hope that we can continue to work together and find a better way. If a veto override occurs, I hope we can work to find ways to show these four kids that we love them and they have a place in our state.
AP reports on the governor's action, and reports that legislative leaders plan to reconvene on Friday to consider a veto override. The Governor has issued a Proclamation calling a special session of the legislature for Friday to consider an indemnification provision for the Utah High School Athletic Association and local school districts that will be sued.
UPDATE: As reported by AP, on March 25, the Utah legislature overrode the governor's veto.
UPDATE: As reported by WYFI, on May 24 the Indiana legislature overrode the governor's veto. The ACLU has filed suit challenging the law.
