The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Assembly signed off Thursday on contentious legislation limiting transgender youth participation on sports teams and outlawing gender-affirming surgery for minors despite Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ vow to veto the proposals, according to the Associated Press.
The legislation goes next to the Republican-controlled state Senate. If that chamber passes the package, it would go next to Evers, who has promised the bills will never become law.
At least 22 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, and most of those states face lawsuits. Nearly two dozen states have passed legislation limiting athletes to playing on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth.
The Wisconsin legislation includes three bills. One would limit high school athletes to playing on teams that match the gender they were assigned at birth. The second would apply the same restriction to college athletes. The third would bar doctors from performing gender-affirming surgery on minors.
Multiple groups have registered in opposition to the Wisconsin legislation, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Medical College of Wisconsin, the American Pediatrics Academy’s Wisconsin chapter and the Wisconsin School Social Workers Association. The Wisconsin Catholic Conference and Wisconsin Family Action are the only organizations registered in support.
All three bills passed on 63–35 votes. No Democrats voted for any of the bills.
