Utah Gov. Spencer Cox made a plea for compassion on Tuesday after vetoing a bill that would ban transgender students from playing girls sports.
, has “several fundamental flaws” and should be reconsidered. He said he was moved by data that showed among the 75,000 kids playing high school sports in Utah, only four were transgender, and only one played on a girls team.in a letter“Four kids who aren’t dominating or winning trophies or taking scholarships. Four kids who are just trying to find some friends and feel like they are a part of something. Four kids trying to get through each day,” he wrote.
“I don’t understand what they are going through or why they feel the way they do. But I want them to live,” he said. “And all the research shows that even a little acceptance and connection can reduce suicidality significantly.” In response, legislative leaders announced plans to convene on Friday to discuss overriding Cox, who has called for a special session to amend the bill. In his letter, Cox said he hopes Utah lawmakers can “work together and find a better way” for students.them and they have a place in our state,” he said.
Cox was the second Republican governor to move against fellow Republican lawmakers on the issue this week,reported. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb vetoed a similar statewide ban on Monday, saying that lawmakers hadn’t demonstrated that transgender kids undermine fairness in sports. Nearly a dozen states -- Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia -- have put bans in place that target transgender athletes.NBC News: “Utah governor cites suicide rates for transgender youth in vetoing sports ban bill: ‘I want them to live.’”State of Utah Office of the Governor: Letter to Utah Senate president and House speaker, March 22, 2022.
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