Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed a law on Wednesday prohibiting transgender students from participating in girls’ sports, aligning Nebraska with at least 24 other states that have enacted similar restrictions. The law, supported by lawmakers and advocates like former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, emerged after a contentious legislative process, passing by a narrow vote that broke a filibuster. Initially more extensive, the legislation was modified to remove clauses related to bathroom and locker room access after key Republican Senator Merv Riepe expressed opposition.
The bill’s sponsor, freshman Senator Kathleen Kauth, initially introduced it alongside measures banning gender-affirming care for minors, but faced backlash that stalled its progress. An amended version limiting gender-affirming surgery for minors successfully passed earlier this year. Kauth has vowed to reintroduce the bathroom ban in the future, asserting a viewpoint that challenges the validity of transgender identities.
Supporters of the sports ban argue it is essential for protecting fair competition among female athletes, claiming it upholds women’s rights in sports. However, critics highlight that fewer than ten transgender students have participated in state sports in the past decade, indicating that the law addresses an issue that is not prevalent. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska condemned the law, stating it marginalizes transgender youth and inhibits their ability to engage in school activities. ACLU Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman emphasized that such legislation creates more problems than it solves and criticized the ongoing targeting of the LGBTQ+ community in Nebraska.
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