While Alaska House Bill 183 works its way through committees in the Alaska Legislature, Wisconsin’s Democrat Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday vetoed a similar bill that would have banned transgender male-to-female athletes from competing in some girls sports in the state
“I will veto any bill that makes Wisconsin a less safe, less inclusive and less welcoming place for LGBTQ people and kids, and I will continue to keep my promise of using every power available to me to defend them, protect their rights, and keep them safe,” Evers said in a statement.
Critics said that while Evers is determined to protect male athletes competing as females, he apparently has no interest in protecting females. Republicans voted for the bill, sponsored by Rep. Barbara Dittrich. Democrats opposed it.
Dittrich said Evers turned his back on biological girls, and the vast majority of Wisconsin voters with his veto.
“Today, Wisconsin’s governor took a position against federal Title IX and against Wisconsin’s girls in a disgusting veto of the Save Women’s Sports Act that I authored with Sen. Knodl,” Dittrich said. “While he and his ilk continue to gaslight our citizens that this legislation was about hate and exclusion, he ignores the fact that the legislation provides categories for every Wisconsin student while respecting and protecting the safety and merit of our state’s biological girls.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association, the group that runs high school sports in Wisconsin, allows trans athletes to compete if they undergo testosterone suppression therapy for one year. In Alaska, the Alaska School Activities Association voted to ban males from taking over the female competitions, but it does not have the force of state law.
“Female athletes deserve fair competition – and that means the chance to maintain women’s divisions distinct from co-ed or men’s categories. Men generally have higher cardiovascular capacity, greater bone density, and more muscle mass. Our girls deserve better than letting males compete in female-only competitions,” says the Family Policy Alliance, which advocates for girl athletes.
Alaska House Bill 183 is currently in the queue in the Alaska House Judiciary Committee.
House Bill 183 is waiting for a hearing in House Judiciary.
