The Utah Governor’s Reasons For His Veto Of A Transgender Bill

The Utah legislature overrode his veto

It was the scene of debate on a contentious issue

Governor Spencer Cox of Utah, who is a Republican, went against his majority Republican State Legislature by choosing to veto a transgender bill. The bill is a ban against transgender youth from playing sports. It specifically is geared toward banning transgender students from playing girls’ sports.

Although the veto override was short of votes initially, proponents of the bill were able to get ten Republicans to change their vote to override the Governor’s veto. They needed a two-thirds majority.

Zoe Richards wrote for NBC News about the governor and his reasons for his veto of the bill. The article was: “Utah governor vetoes bill banning transgender youth from playing sports.”

Governor Cox wrote a letter to the Senate president and House speaker saying that he was moved by the data which showed that there was only four transgender youth participating with just one involved in girls’ sports.

“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,” he wrote. “Rarely has so much fear and anger been directed at so few.” [NBC News]

The Governor also stated that a sense of belonging could reduce suicide rates among transgender youth. He was trying to employ kindness.

“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,” he added. “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.” [NBC News]

The Republicans in the Utah State Legislature seemed basically unmoved by the Governor’s letter and remarks. They used their power to override the veto by the Governor.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, a Republican, vetoed a similar ban in his state. He said that the Indiana Legislature had not demonstrated that transgender youth had undermined fairness in sports.

The article stated that eleven states have implemented bans which target transgender athletes. They are: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.

Governor Cox has called for a special session so that the Legislature might work to amend the bill. He is concerned with funding and lawsuits which may result from the bill.

Whether anything will change the minds of the Republican Legislators remains to be seen.

[Reference: NBC News]