North Dakota Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Transgender Pronouns

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has vetoed a bill that would have restricted how public schools treat transgender students, marking a departure from Republican lawmakers who have backed socially conservative legislation targeting gender issues. The bill would have barred school districts from creating policies to accommodate transgender students unless parents gave explicit permission and prohibited schools from providing classroom instruction that recognizes the concept that gender identity can differ from sex at birth. Supporters of the legislation say it would protect teachers and public employees who are caught in the crossfire of a national debate on pronouns, while LGBTQ advocates and mental health professionals fought against the bill, contending that it singles out transgender youth, who are already at risk of mental health issues.