Indiana Governor Exercises Veto Power On Recent Bill About Girls’ Sports

This past Monday, Indiana Republican Governor Eric Holcomb officially used his power of veto on a ball that made it through the state’s legislature that would have seen the banning of all biological males from competing in girls’ sports across his state.

This veto sits in contrast to a rapidly growing number of GOP governors who have signed into law many similar bills over recent months, including South Dakota and Iowa.

Holcomb put forth the argument, in a letter to Indiana state Speaker Todd Huston (R), claiming that the bill would only increase “the likelihood of litigation against our schools with the courts having to adjudicate the uncertainties.”

Another concern from the governor expressed through his letter was that the law would not stand in any court.

“In the two cases with initial rulings thus far, the courts have enjoined or prohibited laws with these same substantive provisions from taking effect based on equal protections grounds,” stated Holcomb.

The governor highlighted yet another concern which is that the newly proposed law “implies that the goals of consistency and fairness in competitive female sports are not currently being met. After thorough review, I find no evidence to support either claim even if I support the overall goal.”

A report from the New York Times about the veto from Holcomb highlighted that it was “a sharply different approach to the issue than 11 fellow Republican governors who have signed similar measures into law in recent years.”

Todd Rokita (R), the Indiana attorney general, stated their harsh disagreement with the governor’s choice to veto the bill.

“The passage of HEA 1041 to ban males from competing on female sports teams is an important step in protecting youth sports and has been championed by my office. We welcome the opportunity to defend this law if challenged in court,” he stated.

The topic of biological males only competing in male sports has proved itself to be an increasingly more intense talking point as biological male and transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has been competing and quite often dominating at various events with the women’s swimming team for the University of Pennsylvania.

Thomas has cemented themselves as the first transgender person to win an NCAA swimming title as of this past week, but there is an extreme amount of controversy surrounding the entire event.

One of the female athletes from the NCAA women’s Swimming Championships later took the chance to speak out.

Virginia Tech women’s swimmer Reka Gyorgy put out a letter to the NCAA that was later posted to Instagram that highlighted her concerns. As reported by the Daily Wire:

“My name is Reka Gyorgy from Hungary. I am a 2016 Rio Olympian, represented Virginia Tech for the past 5 years, a 2 time ACC champion, 2 time All-American and 3 time honorable mention All-American,” wrote Virginia Tech swimmer Reka Gyorgy in a letter to the NCAA that she posted on Instagram.

“With all due respect, I would like to address something that is a problem in our sport right now and hurting athletes, especially swimmers,” wrote Gyorgy. “Everyone has heard and known about transgender [swimmer], Lia Thomas, and her case including all the issues and concerns that her situation brought into our sport.”

Gyorgy went on to add at a later point, “This is my last college meet ever and I feel frustrated. It feels like that final spot was taken away from me because of the NCAA’s decision to let someone who is not a biological female compete.”

 

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