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# Utah governor condemns anti-trans bill
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/utah-governor-condemns-anti-trans-bill/
- Published: 2021-02-28T11:30:11.000Z
- Updated: 2021-02-28T07:25:26.000Z
- Description: Utah moved to adjourn without voting on House Bill 302, after state governor Spencer Cox condemned it.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Politics, Sport, Center for American Progress, Human Rights Watch, LGBTQ, Trans athletes, Trans Rights, Trans Youth, Transgender, US, Utah

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/spencer-cox-utah-600-400.jpg)

The **Utah** Senate Health and Human Services Committee moved to adjourn without voting on House Bill 302, after state governor **Spencer Cox** condemned it, saying he would not sign it as it is currently written. HB 302, which was proposed by state representative **Kera Birkeland**, stated trans students should not be allowed to participate in school sports, making Utah one of [17 states](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/20-us-states-file-bills-targeting-trans-people/) which has considered such regulations.

Although the bill was passed by the Utah Senate in a 6-8 vote, its success is now unlikely after Cox said in a press conference: *“If you have not spent time with transgender youth, then I would encourage you to pause on this issue. We have so many people who are in a very difficult spot right now. These kids…are just trying to stay alive. You know, there is a reason none of them are playing sports. And so, I just think there is a better way, and I hope that there will be enough grace in our state to find a better solution.”*

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans_athlete_track_600400.jpg)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)

The [**Human Rights Watch**](https://www.hrc.org/press-releases/8-bills-across-7-states-coordinated-anti-transgender-anti-lgbtq-legislative-push-ramps-up-in-state-houses-across-the-country?ref=scenemag.co.uk) has also spoken out against the rising number of bills against trans athletes, saying there is not actually an issue with trans participation in sports: *“These bills are not addressing any real problem, and they’re not being requested by constituents. Rather, this effort is being driven by national far-right organizations attempting to sow fear and hate. Opposing equality is highly unpopular – even among Trump voters – and states that pass legislation that attacks our community will face severe economic, legal, and reputational harm.”*

A recent [study](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/report-finds-trans-inclusion-in-sport-doesnt-harm-cis-youth/) also found that trans athletes pose no threat to cisgender women. The report argued there is no evidence to *“support the claim that allowing transgender athletes to participate will reduce or harm participation in girls’ sports”* and suggested anti-trans rhetoric relies on *“scare tactics, stereotypes, and unwarranted claims that transgender women have a physiological advantage over cisgender women.”*

[![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/trans_student_athlete_600.png)](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/home/)