STATEHOUSE (May 24, 2022) – Elkhart County legislators today joined the majority of Indiana's lawmakers in successfully overriding the governor's veto of legislation protecting the integrity of girls' sports.
House and Senate legislators voted on Tuesday at the Statehouse to override the governor's veto of House Enrolled Act 1041, which prohibits biological males from competing in K-12 girls' sports in Indiana. The vote came as part of technical corrections day, where lawmakers can take up any vetoes and fix technical errors in laws passed during the prior session.
"We voted to protect girls' sports from being diminished by allowing biological males to compete against biological females," said State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury), co-author of the new law. "Hoosier girls deserve fairness and equality in sports and this new law does just that."
Indiana will join at least 16 other states that have similar laws on the books protecting female sports. State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) said concerned parents reached out after an increasing number of biological males have dominated the national spotlight in girls' athletic events across the nation.
"Every female athlete should have the opportunity to earn a spot on a team and compete fairly," Miller said. "This is a commonsense approach to making sure girls now and in the future can participate in sports."
There are certain biological differences that give males an unfair advantage over females in sports, like greater muscle mass, bone density and cardio capacity. State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola) said the vote Tuesday was especially important as June marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which ensures women have an equal opportunity to play and compete in sports.
"The protections in this law help preserve important advancements made throughout the years on behalf of female athletes," Wesco said. "With continued threats to girls' opportunities, it was time to act."
In Indiana, a gubernatorial veto can be overridden with a constitutional majority vote in both chambers, and the bill becomes a law without the governor's signature. For more information about House Enrolled Act 1041, effective on July 1, 2022, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Joanna King (R-Middlebury) represents House District 49,
which includes the eastern portion of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Doug Miller (R-Elkhart) represents House District 48,
which includes portions of Elkhart County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
State Rep. Tim Wesco (R-Osceola) represents House District 21,
which includes portions of Elkhart and St. Joseph counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
