The Kentucky Legislature has voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto on Senate Bill 83, a bill that bans biological males from participating in female sports.
The bill states that schools would need to identify each sports team as either “boys,” “girls” or “coed.”
While all students would be permitted to play boys or coed sports, girls’ teams “shall not be open to members of the male sex.”
The override passed the Senate in a 29-8 vote and in the House in a 72-23 vote.
The bill, Senate Bill 83, will now become law! Every state must pass this legislation and it must include college sports. Follow me to keep updated!
— Tim Swain (@_TimSwain_) April 13, 2022
Kentucky legislature overrides Democratic governor's veto of legislation to bar biological males from girls' sports https://t.co/glkU1aLOfj
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) April 14, 2022
LEX 18 reported:
“This is a huge win for the integrity of women’s sports and with the inevitable enactment of Senate Bill 83 into law,” state senator Robby Mills, who sponsored the bill, said. “Kentucky is a leading voice for female athletes across the nation. The Kentucky General Assembly stands in support of female athletes everywhere as they work hard to achieve their goals and dreams.”
Lawmakers in support of the ban argue they’re protecting women in sports, bringing in UK swimmer Riley Gaines.
Gaines is the swimmer who tied Lia Thomas, a prominent trans athlete. Gaines says she wants changes to transgender rules in NCAA competition.
“I know I speak for the majority of female athletes across every NCAA sport when I say biological males should not be competing against women,” said Gaines. “It’s crucial for the NCAA to open its eyes and recognize the irrefutable damage being done to everything Title IX stands for: equity, fairness and creating opportunities for women to succeed at an elite level and in life.”
The Hill added:
Kentucky lawmakers Wednesday evening voted to override Gov. Andy Beshear’s (D) veto on legislation barring transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, making Kentucky the 14th state to enact such a measure.
Beshear vetoed the bill, officially titled the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act,” last week, writing in a veto message that it “most likely” violates the U.S. Constitution and doesn’t solve an existing problem in the state.
“Most importantly, however, the Governor of Utah acknowledged the difficulties faced by our transgender community and the research that shows that the acceptance and connection transgender children experience through school sports can reduce suicidality significantly,” the governor wrote last week. “I share the same concerns.”
The governors of Utah and Indiana last month vetoed similar legislation, though the state legislature in Utah also voted to override Gov. Spencer Cox’s (R) action.
Join the conversation!
Please share your thoughts about this article below. We value your opinions, and would love to see you add to the discussion!