Republican governor vetoes North Dakota transgender sports bill

The North Dakota Human Rights Coalition, Tri-State Transgender, the state Democratic-NPL Party and the American Civil Liberties Union all had urged Burgum to veto the bill, calling it discriminatory and unconstitutional. Burgum in his veto message to Speaker Kim Koppelman, R-West Fargo, said "North Dakota today has a level playing field and fairness in girls' sports." "North Dakota has fairness in girls' and boys' sports in large part because of the caring and thoughtful leadership of the North Dakota High School Activities Association (NDHSAA) Board and its members," Burgum said. "We have every confidence they will continue to ensure a level playing field for the more than 27,000 students who participate in North Dakota high school sports." Burgum also said "to date there has not been a single recorded incident of a transgender girl attempting to play on a North Dakota girls' team. Further, the NDHSAA already has regulations in place for participation in sex-separated interscholastic contests by transgender students."