Governor Edwards vetoed legislation that would have blocked transgender athletes from participating in girl’s and women’s sports teams in Louisiana K-12 and post-secondary schools. The veto came months after Edwards initially vowed to reject the legislation before it was even taken up in committee.
In his veto statement, Edwards said “discrimination is not a Louisiana value” and previously the Governor had voiced concern about the mental health impact the bill would have on trans youth.
“First and foremost I am really concerned about emotionally fragile people and the idea that the weight of the state would be put behind something that to me is unnecessary and discriminatory and very hurtful for those individuals when there is not a compelling reason to do it,” said Edwards who also sounded the alarm about the financial ramifications of sighing this bill into law. “We know that there will be an adverse impact to the state in respect to the NCAA and other things.”
Supporters argued the legislation was an effort to protect the competitive sanctity of women’s sports. Bill author and Franklinton Senator Beth Mizell took issue with Edwards’ accusation that the bill is discriminatory.
“When did it become discriminatory to protect the rights of women who worked so hard to get what we have accomplished in the competition level of sport?” asked Mizell. “We need to protect women’s sports as we come to know it so that there can be competition between biological women, I don’t see that as discriminatory.”
Edwards and other opponents of the bill pointed out that there are no transgender women or girl athletes currently participating in girls’ and women’s sports in Louisiana schools and current LHSAA regulations largely preclude that from happening at the K-12 level. Mizell said just because that is not the case now does not mean it won’t happen in the future.
“You can look at the news every day and it may not be happening in Louisiana but it is happening in other parts of the country and the world and there has got to be an acknowledgment that women’s competition needs to be protected,” said
The bill cleared both chambers of the Legislature with over two-thirds support. Mizell indicated that the chances of a veto session being called are dependent on what other pieces of legislation are also vetoed.
Per the Associated Press, the Legislature has not held a veto override session since the current state constitution was adopted in the 1970s.
Comments