Utah Governor Vetoes Transgender-Athlete Bill
Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah vetoed a bill on Tuesday that would have barred young transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports, becoming the second Republican governor in two days to reject such legislation.
Republican legislators, however, plan to override the veto on Friday, State Senator J. Stuart Adams, a Republican, said in a statement.
Eleven other states have enacted similar laws in recent years as sports participation by transgender girls and women becomes an increasingly divisive topic among political leaders and athletic organizations.
Mr. Cox, a first-term governor up for re-election in 2024, said in a statement that while “politically, it would be much easier and better for me to simply sign the bill,” he chose to veto it because he “tried to do what I feel is the right thing regardless of the consequences.” Three state legislatures — in Kansas, Louisiana and North Dakota — passed similar bills targeting transgender athletes last year that were ultimately vetoed by their governors.
