West Virginia Governor Jim Justice will not be vetoing a bill aimed at making sure that biological girls will not have to compete against biological boys in school sports.
During a COVID briefing at the Capitol on Wednesday, Justice said that he will either sign House Bill 3293 or let the bill become law without his signature.
“From the standpoint of how I feel about it personally and everything … I just can’t possibly get through my head that it is the right thing for us at a middle school-level, a high school-level and our state for me not to support the bill, so I do support the bill,” Justice said. “I’m either going to let it become law or sign it. I am absolutely not supportive of a veto in regard to the bill.”
Justice made similar comments about the bill on Saturday night.
The bill will require student athletes in middle school, high school and college to play in sports based on their biological sex. It has been amended to specifically protect girl’s and women’s teams, declaring, in no uncertain terms, that female teams “shall not be open to students of the male sex.”
The bill does not apply to co-ed sports.
The NCAA Board of Governors has been attempting to strong arm governors into vetoing bills of this nature by threatening to cease holding tournaments in states that protect girls — which was successful on Gov. Kristi Noem.
“When determining where championships are held, NCAA policy directs that only locations where hosts can commit to providing an environment that is safe, healthy and free of discrimination should be selected,” the board stated. “We will continue to closely monitor these situations to determine whether NCAA championships can be conducted in ways that are welcoming and respectful of all participants.”
Justice is aware of the threats from the NCAA, but isn’t budging.
“Even at the college level, I support the bill there as well,” Justice said. “The NCAA has moved to a more political-correct and liberal body and they could very well penalize us in West Virginia.”
Unlike Gov. Noem, Gov. Justice is standing firm.
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