Republican Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb on Monday vetoed a bill banning transgender athletes from playing on female sports teams.
The bill would have prevented transgender females from participating on girls sports teams at public schools for grades kindergarten through twelve.
As reported by the Daily Caller, the bill was signed into law, it would have allowed for a civil action lawsuit to be brought against a school or institution subject to it if such an entity violated its provisions.
Holcomb said it “falls short” of creating “one consistent state policy regarding the fairness in K-12 sports in Indiana.”
“First, as to process, the wide-open nature of the grievance provisions in HEA 1041 that apply to all K-12 schools in Indiana makes it unclear about how consistency and fairness will be maintained for parents and students across different counties and school districts,” Holcomb wrote in a letter. “Student-athletes could be treated differently according to which school they attend and compete for. Frustration of students, parents and administrators will likely follow.”
Holcomb also said the bill “implies that the goals of consistency and fairness in competitive female sports are not currently being met.”
“I find no evidence to support either claim even if I support the overall goal,” Holcomb wrote.
“Amidst the flurry of enthusiasm to protect the integrity and fairness of women’s sports in our state – a worthy cause for sure – this bill leaves too many unanswered questions such as those highlighted above,” he concluded.
