Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer charged Republicans with “bullying kids for political gain” today as the chamber approved a series of bills to restrict transgender and nonbinary Wisconsinites’ ability to play the sport that matches their gender identity, use their preferred name or pronouns at school and access gender-affirming care.
The Racine Dem noted the upcoming April 1 state Supreme Court election, which will determine whether liberal justices retain their 4-3 majority.
“We are here because the majority party is trying to gain advantage in the Supreme Court election by bullying kids. We know it, you know it, it’s mean-spirited and it’s not how the people of Wisconsin treat their neighbors,” Neubauer said.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, countered Democrats are out of step with the public.
“The public is at 80% on these topics. I’m sure that we will not get 80% today because the Democrats are so beholden to virtue signaling and to the small minority of people in your base that think that this is a good idea, that you’re going to vote no,” Vos said.
Each of the bills passed along party lines, except for a bill requiring transgender girls in K-12 schools to play the sport that matches their sex assigned at birth. One Democrat, Rep. Russell Goodwin, D-Milwaukee, joined Republicans in favor. He did not vote on any of the other transgender-related bills.
Those under 18 years old would be prohibited from receiving gender-affirming care under AB 104, which the chamber approved 50-43 along party lines.
Health care providers who performed care “for the purpose of changing the minor’s body to correspond to a sex that is discordant with the minor’s biological sex” would risk losing their license under the proposal. The bill includes limited exceptions, such as for a minor with a medically verifiable genetic disorder of sex development.
Rep. Lisa Subeck, D-Madison, criticized the bill as part of a trend of politicians wanting to interfere with medical decisions, noting abortion and contraception access.
She said gender-affirming care can be “lifesaving” and charged Republicans with “using trans kids who are already vulnerable as political pawns ahead of a Supreme Court race and at a moment when folks want to put their political agenda ahead of the lives of Wisconsinites.”
Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Mukwonago, said Republicans don’t “hate” transgender people. He said that isn’t possible “because we believe in God, we believe in a final judgment, and it would be wrong for us to hate.”
“These are minors, they do need help,” Wichgers said. ‘And we as a whole body, both Republicans and Democrats, have an obligation to make sure that we help and protect these children, these minors, from permanently changing themselves at such a young age.”
The chamber also voted 51-43 to pass AB 100, which would require women and girls in K-12 schools to play the sport that matches their sex assigned at birth. Goodwin joined Republicans in favor. Goodwin’s office did not return a request for comment.
AB 102, approved 50-43 along party lines, would impose the same requirement at state universities and technical colleges.
Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, during the debate on AB 100 said while some may talk about “fairness,” such measures are really about discrimination against trans students. She argued that can lead to discrimination against all girls playing sports.
“This bill opens up lanes for dangerous gender policing and could subject girls to invasive tests about whether they’re masculine enough or too masculine or woman enough, when we should be focusing on ensuring that every student, whether it’s on the field or in the classroom, has the opportunity to thrive,” Hong said.
Vos said allowing transgender women to play on women’s teams is “demeaning to female Americans.” He listed off the names of famous women athletes, like Serena Williams, Simon Biles and Katie Ledecky.
“If it were up to my colleagues on the left, you would not know a single one of these names. Why, you ask, would we not know their names? Because every one of them would have been beaten by a man because of biology,” Vos said.
Lawmakers approved 50-43 along party lines a bill to require parental consent for students to change the name or pronouns they use at school.
Under AB 103, those over 18 would be required to submit a written notarized statement requesting the change, and minors would be required to have their parents submit one.
Rep. Randy Udell, D-Fitchburg, who is gay, said the bill would out transgender kids and put them in danger. He pointed out the impact of discrimination on people in the LGBTQ community’s mental health. Udell noted his first partner came out to his parents when he was diagnosed with AIDS, and his parents did not speak to him before he died.
“Most people in the gay and trans community will tell you if you receive support when you first come out, you are lucky,” Udell said. “If you are someone who hasn’t heard this before, I’m glad for you. I’m glad that the people in your life have not had to face some of the difficulties that so many of our folks have faced for years.”
Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, said Republicans “believe most teachers have good intentions and care deeply for their students, and we have great empathy for people who are struggling with their sexual identity.”
“The true substance of this bill is about making sure that parents, the people who know and love their children best, are not left out of life-altering decisions that our beloved children are making,” Brill said.
The bills head to the Senate for approval after today’s vote. They face a likely veto from Gov. Tony Evers, who has said he will “veto any bill making Wisconsin less safe, less inclusive, and less welcoming for LGBTQ people and kids.”
