SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Utah Gov. Spencer Cox vetoed a ban on transgender students playing girls sports on Tuesday, becoming the second Republican governor to overrule state lawmakers who have taken on youth sports in a broader culture war over how Americans view gender and sexuality.

Cox joins Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, who vetoed a statewide ban on Monday . Holcomb said Indianas Legislature had not demonstrated that transgender kids had undermined fairness in sports.

I struggle to understand so much of it and the science is conflicting. When in doubt however, I always try to err on the side of kindness, mercy and compassion, Cox wrote in a letter to Utah legislative leaders.