The highly contested vetoed bill to ban transgender athletes from participating in women’s sport failed to garner enough votes in the House thus allowing the governor’s veto to stand. Governor John Bel Edwards said on the first hand the bill is unnecessary…
“And on another it’s harmful, then it also makes it mean. Because it is directed at the most emotionally fragile children in the state of Louisiana, who are not even trying to do that which the law would prohibit them from doing.”
Louisiana Family Forum President Gene Mills said he is very disheartened legislators failed to override the veto. Seventy votes were needed, and veto opponents failed to reach a two-thirds majority by two votes. Some representatives even changed their vote from the regular session on Senate Bill 156.
“I’m very disappointed with the 68 to 30 outcome. Three members voted, switched their votes, Roy Adams, Chad Brown and Travis Johnson, they’re going to have to explain what they did back home,” said Mills.
Edwards said the bill was a solution looking for a problem because it is not even an ongoing issue, but it could jeopardize the state’s tourism industry that’s been severely impacted by the pandemic.
“We’ve been told by the NCAA and others that we put at serious risk things like championship events, that’s not to mention the NFL, and the NBA and other things with conventions,” said Edwards.
Mills said transgender athletes pose a threat to women’s sports and he’s disappointed House members did not rise to the occasion and remedy the issue.
“This problem’s not going away, and I think the LHSAA has a couple of modest rules in place that may hold us back until next year, but this issue is not going away, and I don’t think the public has changed their opinion,” said Mills.
Lawmakers failed to override any of the governor’s 28 vetoes from the 2021 regular session.
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