Nebraska’s governor, Jim Pillen, officially signed into law a measure on Wednesday that prohibits transgender students from joining girls’ sports teams. The newly enacted law positions Nebraska alongside other states that restrict transgender athletes from participating in women’s and girls’ sports.
Governor Pillen, surrounded by a group of lawmakers, female athletes, and supporters, including outspoken advocate and former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, affirmed the measure. The law’s passage in the Nebraska Legislature last week succeeded by overcoming a filibuster thanks to a pivotal vote cast strictly along party lines. Initially, the law had additional components, such as a proposed ban on transgender students using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity.
The sponsors of the bill decided to eliminate the bathroom and locker room restrictions after Omaha Senator Merv Riepe, a Republican, signaled his intent to oppose it. The bill, initially introduced in 2023 by freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, previously struggled to progress due to her concurrent bill, which aimed to restrict gender-affirming care for minors under 19 years old. Eventually, an amended version passed, banning only gender-affirming surgery for minors, which became law the same year.
Senator Kauth vowed on Wednesday to push for the bathroom and locker room restrictions again in the following year, reiterating her belief that gender cannot be self-determined. She emphasized her stance, stating, “Men are men and women are women,” and called on constituents in Riepe’s district to sway his future vote.
Proponents of the sports ban argue that it safeguards the fairness of women’s and girls’ sports competitions. Meanwhile, critics contend that with the limited number of transgender students attempting to compete in sports, the measure does more harm than good. The Nebraska School Activities Association reported that since 2018, less than ten transgender students had sought to engage in middle and high school sports in Nebraska.
To date, over 24 states have implemented similar restrictions on transgender athletes. Additionally, President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this year aimed at determining the regulations for transgender athlete participation and his administration has encountered legal challenges, such as the ongoing court battle with Maine regarding their inclusion policies.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska has strongly condemned the new law. Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman stated that the ban prevents some transgender students from being fully engaged in their school communities. She emphasized that such policies not only fail to solve issues but pose potential problems instead, stressing the need to cease the persistent discrimination against LGBTQ+ residents in Nebraska.