A Better Wisconsin Together Applauds Gov. Evers’ Veto of GOP’s Latest Attack on LGBTQ youth

MADISON, Wis. — Today, Governor Tony Evers vetoed Assembly Bill 377, a GOP bill that would unjustly target LGBTQ+ youth and put elected officials in charge of deciding what sports kids in Wisconsin can play.

According to A Better Wisconsin Together Communications Director Lucy Ripp, the bill vetoed today is another in a long line of GOP-authored bills that are focused on all the wrong priorities for Wisconsin schools, students, and future generations.

“All kids, regardless of gender identity, deserve to play the sports they love and be treated with dignity and respect,” said Ripp. “Politicians should not be the ones deciding what extracurricular activities our kids have access to.”

Leading experts agree that access to extracurriculars, like youth sports, are essential to children’s development – and no kid or student should be barred from building on their talents and learning skills like teamwork and leadership.

“Instead of focusing on the things that we know promote healthy experiences in youth sports, like fully funded schools that can provide high quality coaches, resources, and facilities, right-wing lawmakers are trying to use Wisconsin kids as political tools meant to distract and divide,” Ripp continued. “We appreciate Governor Evers for standing with LGBTQ+ student athletes and all Wisconsinites in vetoing Assembly Bill 377.”

Call Governor Evers today at 608-266-1212 and thank him for keeping Wisconsin a place where all kids are free to be authentically themselves, play the sports they love, and know that they belong.

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A Better Wisconsin Together is a state-based research and communications hub for progressives and is an affiliate of ProgressNow.