Pennsylvania Gov Says He'll Veto Ban On Trans Athletes In Women's Sports
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) said Monday that he will veto a bill banning trans athletes from playing women's sports in the state, should it pass the state legislature.
Pennsylvania’s ‘Fairness in Women's Sports Act’ is one of multiple such bills advancing in states across the country over the vehement objections of advocates and health experts.
Last month, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) signed into law a ban on trans girls and women participating in K-12 and collegiate level sports that align with their gender identity, following a similar move earlier this year by Mississippi.
As ‘The Hill’ reports, Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David called Hutchinson’s decision “an affront not just to the transgender kids it is bound to hurt but to all Arkansans who will be impacted by its consequences” in a statement to the Associated Press at the time.
“Hutchinson is ignoring the ugly history of states that have dared to pass anti-transgender legislation in years past, and by doing so he is exposing Arkansas to economic harm, expensive taxpayer-funded legal battles, and a tarnished reputation,” David said.
Naiymah Sanchez, the ACLU of Pennsylvania’s transgender justice coordinator, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that introducing anti-trans legislation during COVID-19 “speaks volumes” about the “priorities” of lawmakers.
“We are in the middle of a pandemic that has put a significant strain on the mental health of young people,” Sanchez said. “Introducing a bill that would bar trans athletes from participating in sports is simply cruel and speaks volumes about the priorities of these lawmakers who are creating a problem that simply doesn’t exist.”
Read related myGwork articles here:
Tennessee Becomes Third USA State This Month To Enact Restrictions For Trans Athletes
500 Athletes Take A Stand Against Transphobic Legislations In Letter To NCAA
Trump Mocks Trans Athletes In First Speech Since Leaving Office
Biden Ends White House Support for Trans Sports Ban
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