Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) on Tuesday vetoed a Republican-backed bill that would have banned transgender females from participating in girl’s and women’s school and college sports.
Details: “As I have said repeatedly when asked about this bill, discrimination is not a Louisiana value, and this bill was a solution in search of a problem that simply does not exist in Louisiana,” Edwards said in a statement countering the bill’s supporters who say they’re trying to protect female athletes from unfair competition.
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“Even the author of the bill acknowledged throughout the legislative session that there wasn’t a single case where this was an issue.”
The big picture: Republicans in at least 25 states have introduced a record 60-plus bills targeting transgender youth this year.
What to watch: While Edwards’ action prevents the Republican bill from becoming law for now, lawmakers in the GOP-controlled House and Senate could override the veto — as happened in Arkansas in April over a bill that criminalizes gender-affirming care for transgender children.
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The last veto override session in Louisiana under the current constitution occurred in 1974, AP notes.
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