Wyoming governor refuses to sign ‘draconian’ bill barring biological males from women’s sports

Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming, has declined to sign a bill requiring student-athletes to compete based on their biological sex. In his statement, he criticised the Student Eligibility in Interscholastic Sports Act as “overly draconian” and said that it “pays little attention to the fundamental principles of equality.” The bill is set to become law without Gordon’s signature.

Gordon opposes the bill because he believes that it sends a harmful message to transgender individuals and their families. He says that the messages of exclusion and discrimination can have a devastating effect on the mental health and well-being of individuals who already face significant marginalisation.

Wyoming is now the latest state to approve a ban on transgender students’ participation in sports. There has been a series of Republican-controlled state bills that aim to restrict competition based on gender identity, instead of biological sex. States like Texas, Oklahoma, and Tennessee have passed similar bills.

Gordon stated that it was “difficult” for him to sign the legislation because it would invite a lawsuit that would require the state’s financial resources defending in court. He is allowing the bill to pass into law even though it doesn’t have the benefit of his signature. Gordon urged the legislature to carefully consider policies that promote inclusion and equality for all individuals.

The conservative American Principles Project praised the bill’s signing, and Terry Schilling, its president, criticised Gordon’s letter to the legislature. Schilling says that it’s simple commonsense to limit girls’ athletics to girls and that polling shows that most Americans agree with the idea.

Antonio Serrano, the advocacy director for ACLU Wyoming, criticized the new law as “shameful.” Serrano thinks that it reinforces the notion that transgender students are not entitled to the same dignity and respect as all students. “Inclusive teams that support all athletes and encourage participation should be the standard for all school sports,” he said.