Indiana lawmakers met on Tuesday to overturn Governor Eric Holcolm's March veto of a bill that would have prevented biological males from competing in women and girls' sports. The vote passed 32 to 15 and will go into effect on July 1.
Senate vote on the veto - 32-15.
— Niki Kelly (@nkellyIN) May 24, 2022
The veto has been overridden and the transgender sports ban is effective July 1.
In March when he vetoed the bill, Holcomb said "that the legislation doesn't provide a consistent policy for what he called 'fairness in K-12 sports,'" reported local news.
"Holcomb's failure proves the winds are changing in establishment spaces. Republicans are finding greater success in supporting families rather than lectures on taxes," Tony Kinnett told The Post Millennial.
BREAKING: The conservative majorities in the Indiana House & Senate have voted to OVERRIDE the veto by Governor Holcomb [R].
— Tony Kinnett (@TheTonus) May 24, 2022
Starting July 1, Boys will be banned from participating in girls' athletics (including changing together in locker rooms), K-12.
While Holcomb had initially supported the bill, which is similar to bills across the country to protect women's and girls' sports from incursion by biological males who would take competitive spots away from females, he later claimed essentially that it wasn't necessary.
His reasoning was based on a data from the Indiana High School Athletic Association, which allows students to play on teams according to their gender identity and not biological sex, and "has said no transgender girls have finalized a request to play on a girls team."
The state's GOP Attorney General backs the bill, saying that Holcomb's reasons for his veto were "BS". The AG's office, under Todd Rokita, said that they stand "ready to uphold the law and defend any challenges."
"Hoosiers won’t be bullied by woke groups threatening girls' sports," said Rokita.
The law will prevent students who are biological males from competing in women's sports, even if they identify as transgender. Female athletes who identify as boys or men will not be barred from competing against male athletes.
In the lead-up to the vote, police employed bomb-sniffing dogs out of a concern for the safety of those lawmakers seeking to overturn the veto.
Indiana State Police swept the Senate for bombs. Not allowed in to show photographer allowed.
— Niki Kelly (@nkellyIN) May 24, 2022
Never seen this before except for State of the State night.
Speaking on the veto override, Rep. Jim Banks, who serves Indiana in the US House, said that he was "proud" of the state for "setting a good example for legislature nationwide, and most of all, for standing up for Hoosier girls and their parents."
"I strongly believe that protecting women’s sports is an issue that will soon unite all Republicans and I am working hard to make sure that Congress passes similar legislation after we retake the majority," Banks said.
— Niki Kelly (@nkellyIN) May 24, 2022
Banks went on to say that he hopes the issue of fairness in girls' sports can "unite Republicans" and hopes to pass similar legislation at the federal level.
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