Kansas Governor Laura Kelly on Thursday vetoed Senate Bill 55, the "Fairness in Women's Sports Act", a measure that would have banned transgender athletes from girls' and women's school sports.
The Democratic governor's action thwarted an effort by conservative Republican lawmakers to make Kansas the latest state with a GOP-controlled legislature to enact such a ban.
Kelly's veto was widely expected because she had labeled the bill "regressive" and suggested it would hurt the state's ability to recruit businesses.
Conservative Republican lawmakers did not have the two-thirds majorities necessary in both chambers to override a veto when they pushed it to passage earlier this month.
The Governor said, "This legislation sends a devastating message that Kansas is not welcoming to all children and their families, including those who are transgender - who are already at a higher risk of bullying, discrimination, and suicide.
"As Kansans, we should be focused on how to include all students in extracurricular activities rather than how to exclude those who may be different than us. Kansas is an inclusive state and our laws should reflect our values. This law does not do that.
"This bill would also undoubtedly harm our ability to attract and retain businesses. It would send a signal to prospective companies that Kansas is more focused on unnecessary and divisive legislation, than strategic, pro-growth lawmaking.
"Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto Senate Bill 55."
Governor Kelly also vetoed House Bill 2089 and House Bill 2039, saying, "The Kansas Constitution endows our state Board of Education with the authority to set the curriculum for our public schools. We should let the state Board of Education do that job, not the Legislature. This is legislative overreach. I encourage the Legislature to work with the State Board of Education to modify curriculum.
"Therefore, under Article 2, Section 14(a) of the Constitution, I hereby veto House Bill 2089 and House Bill 2039."
A response to the Governor's veto came from the Family Police Alliance of Kansas, which says more than 30 U.S. states are considering this legislation.
Brittany Jones, Esq., Director of Advocacy for the Alliance, says, "Governor Kelly has sided today with the NCAA, who can't even ensure girls have decent locker rooms, and the radical Left, who are working to erase women. Why would a family choose to move to Kansas if they knew their daughter's opportunities were going to be stolen by a biological boy, no matter how hard that girl tried? If the Governor won't stand up in this simple way, when will she stand up for girls?
"Today, we stand with every girl who is fighting for her dreams & with parents all across Kansas from Abilene to Zurich who just want their daughters & granddaughters to have a chance. This is who we've always been, whether it is fighting against exploitative practices like pornography, abortion, and human trafficking. We will not stop fighting for women.
"We call on the House & the Senate to override this discriminatory veto & let Kansas women know we will keep fighting for them."
