Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has exercised her veto power against a slate of Republican bills, including the controversial Senate Bill 1628, which aimed to redefine gender terms strictly by biological sex and posed significant implications for the rights of transgender individuals in the state. By taking this action, Hobbs continues her commitment to opposing legislation that she perceives as targeting Arizonans.
Senate Bill 1628, introduced by Republican Sen. Sine Kerr and branded as the “Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights,” sought to eliminate the word “gender” from state law, replacing it with “sex” as determined by biology. It would have required individuals to use bathrooms, locker rooms, sports teams, and domestic violence shelters in accordance with the sex assigned to them at birth, potentially erasing trans people from legal recognition and public life.
Governor Hobbs, standing firm against the bill, stated, “As I have said time and again, I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans.” Her decision echoes her consistent stance against anti-LGBTQ+ policies. Previously, Hobbs vetoed several bills that targeted LGBTQ+ rights, including measures addressing trans students’ use of correct locker rooms and restrooms, as well as a bill that was described as an attempt to ban books.
The Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights, passed by the state’s Republican-controlled House with a 31–28 vote, encountered staunch opposition from Democratic legislators and LGBTQ+ advocates. Democratic state Sen. Eva Burch condemned the effort to force trans people into restrictive boxes, expressing fears about the harm such treatment could inflict on the trans community. Hugo Polanco from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona warned that the bill would have forced trans individuals to live a lie, endangering their safety by requiring legal documents to disclose the sex they were assigned at birth.
“This bill would force transgender people to live a lie and put them at risk of harm by disclosing the sex they were assigned at birth on documents like drivers’ licenses, marriage licenses, school records and burial paperwork,” Polanco said in February. “All of us, including transgender people, need accurate and consistent identity documents that reflect who we are. That’s what IDs are for.”
While supporters of the bill claimed it was necessary for the protection and privacy of girls and women in single-sex spaces, opponents cited studies debunking the notion that the presence of trans individuals in these spaces poses any increased risk. In fact, many argued that such legislation only fuels discrimination and undermines the safety and dignity of transgender individuals.
The governor’s veto aligns with her recent executive actions, which include signing orders to cover gender-affirming surgery under state employee health insurance plans and banning state agencies from promoting or funding conversion therapy, both seen as significant steps toward equality for the LGBTQ+ community in Arizona.
Relevant articles:
– Arizona governor vetoes bill seeking to erase trans folks from public life. “As I have said time and again, I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans,” declared Gov. Katie Hobbs.
– transgender, Ten Commandments bill, Washington Blade, Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:10:34 GMT
– Hobbs vetoes more bills, brings total to 42 on the session, Daily Independent, Tue, 16 Apr 2024 23:57:00 GMT
– Arizona Gov Katie Hobbs vetoes ‘Women’s Bill of Rights,’ Ten Commandments bills: ‘Abandoning God’, Yahoo! Voices, Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:54:32 GMT