The governor called the legislation “a product of the cultural war in America”, adding that his veto occurs even though he believes the project is “well-intentioned”.
The bill, called the Arkansas Act to Save Teenagers from Experimentation (SAFE), passed the state Senate at the end of last month by a vote of 28 votes to 7. The state chamber passed in early March by a vote of 70-22.
The project opened what it called an “exception” for some intersex people with chromosomal makeup and unspecified hormonal production, and those with difficulties resulting from previous gender-affirming treatments. It would also have banned so-called cross-hormone therapy, a gender-affirming treatment that allows transgender people to change their physical appearance to be more consistent with their gender identity.
This story is breaking and will be updated.