Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed a controversial measure into law Wednesday, banning transgender students from competing on girls’ sports teams. Flanked by conservative lawmakers, former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, and other supporters, Pillen’s signing ceremony marked the state’s latest move to restrict the rights of transgender youth.
The bill, which narrowly passed the Nebraska Legislature last week, broke a filibuster by a single party-line vote. Originally, it included provisions to bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity, but those clauses were dropped after Republican Sen. Merv Riepe of Omaha announced he would oppose them.
Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who first introduced the bill in 2023, vowed Wednesday to reintroduce the bathroom and locker room ban next year. “Men are men and women are women,” Kauth said, rejecting the idea that people can determine their own gender. She also called on voters in Riepe’s district to pressure him to support the ban next session.
Opponents of the sports ban, including LGBTQ+ advocates and civil liberties organizations, argue that it is both harmful and unnecessary. According to the Nebraska School Activities Association, fewer than 10 transgender students have applied to participate in middle and high school sports in the state since 2018.
Mindy Rush Chipman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Nebraska, condemned the measure as a direct attack on already marginalized youth. “This ban slams the door shut for some transgender students to fully participate in their school communities,” Rush Chipman said. “It will only create problems, not solve any. The constant targeting of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans must stop.”
Michelle Jud, executive director of Rainbow Moms, said she is disappointed in the new law. “The kids just want to play,” she said. “Sports are a great tool for building teamwork, camaraderie, just learning all those things sports can provide. It’s daunting. These kids have to sit there and watch our state lawmakers debate their existence. It’s really hard, it’s really hard as parents to watch that happen, too.”
For many families, the timing of the ban is especially painful. OutNebraska, a statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, released a statement saying in part, “Our hearts break for the young children and families who are celebrating Pride this month while also grappling with the reality of this harmful legislation.”
Supporters of the law insist that it is about “fairness” in women’s sports, an argument that echoes similar bills sweeping the country. At least 24 other states have enacted comparable bans. Former President Donald Trump has also signed an executive order this year attempting to dictate which competitions transgender athletes can enter, sparking legal battles with states like Maine.
For transgender Nebraskans and their families, the new law is a painful blow that underscores a growing climate of exclusion and fear. Many advocates argue that policies like this not only fail to address real issues in sports but also add to the stigma and isolation transgender youth experience daily.
For those who stand with these kids, the families, friends, and allies who love them, the message remains clear: your identity is valid, and your right to exist fully is worth fighting for.
