Indiana Republican Governor Eric Holcomb vetoed a bill on Monday passed by the state’s legislature that would have banned biological males from competing in girls’ sports in the Hoosier state.
The veto stands in contrast with a growing number of GOP governors who have signed similar bills in recent months, including Iowa and South Dakota.
Holcomb argued in a letter to Indiana state Speaker Todd Huston (R) that the bill would increase “the likelihood of litigation against our schools with the courts having to adjudicate the uncertainties.”
A second concern the governor expressed in his letter was that the law would not stand in 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,” Holcomb added.
The governor noted a third concern 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 New York Times report covering Holcomb’s veto noted it was “a sharply different approach to the issue than 11 fellow Republican governors who have signed similar measures into law in recent years.”
Indiana attorney general Todd Rokita (R) disagreed with the governor’s veto.
“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 wrote.
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. pic.twitter.com/jNv9NzjDuG
— Todd Rokita (@AGToddRokita) March 10, 2022
The issue of biological males competing in male sports has become an increasingly tense point of discussion as biological male and transgender swimmer Lia Thomas has competed and often dominated at events with the University of Pennsylvania women’s swimming team.
Thomas became the first transgender individual to win an NCAA swimming title last week with much controversy surrounding the event.
One female athlete from the NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships later spoke out.
Virginia Tech women’s swimmer Reka Gyorgy penned a letter to the NCAA that was posted to Instagram that noted her concerns. The Daily Wire reported:
“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 later added, “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.”