Kentucky’s governor has vetoed a bill that would bar transgender girls and women from participating in school sports matching their gender identity from sixth grade through college. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear said Wednesday that the measure “most likely” violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal protection rights. The state’s Republican-dominated legislature will have a chance to override the veto when lawmakers reconvene April 13. Republican-led states increasingly have adopted such prohibitions on transgender girls or women. The culture war-related bans have been challenged in several states as violations of federal law. Beshear noted that similar measures drew vetoes from Republican governors in some other states.
Gov. Beshear has vetoed a bill that would shift key school governance decisions to superintendents and away from school-based decision-making councils. The veto Wednesday reflects the clear divisions between the Democratic governor and GOP lawmakers over some high-profile education policies. The legislature will have a chance to override the veto when lawmakers reconvene April 13. The education bill also would designate a set of historical documents and speeches to incorporate into classroom work. It's a response to the national debate over critical race theory.In his veto message, Beshear said the bill represents a “step backward” for public education.