Governor Evers Promises to Veto Republican Bill Regarding Transgender Athletes

Friday, March 15th, 2024 -- 10:01 AM

(AP) Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers renewed his promise Tuesday to veto a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature that would ban high school transgender athletes competing on girls teams, saying he will be “damn proud to do it.”

Evers, a Democrat, repeated his earlier veto promise moments after the state Senate passed the measure on its final planned meeting day of the session. “I’ll keep my promise to veto any bill making Wisconsin less safe, less inclusive and less welcoming for LGBTQ people and kids, including this one,” Evers said. “And I’ll be damn proud to do it.”

Republicans don’t have the votes to override a veto of the bill that would require that high school athletes play on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth.

Democratic Sen. Mark Spreitzer said he was frustrated that Republicans were bringing forward the bill given Evers’ pledge to veto it and bipartisan opposition to the measure in committee.

The bill will “never become law in Wisconsin” but debating it will only further harm transgender children, he said.

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