Nebraska is the latest state to ban transgender students from girls' sports
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen signed into law Wednesday a measure banning transgender students from girls' sports, making the state the latest to keep transgender athletes from competing on women's and girls' teams.
Pillen signed the law flanked by dozens of lawmakers, women athletes and other advocates — including former collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has made a name for herself as a vocal advocate of banning transgender athletes from women's sports.
The measure passed by the Nebraska Legislature last week broke a filibuster by a single vote cast along party lines. It was pared down from its initial form, which also sought to bar transgender students from using bathrooms and locker rooms corresponding with their gender identity.
Sponsors agreed to drop the bathroom and locker room ban when one Republican — Omaha Sen. Merv Riepe — declared he would vote against it otherwise.
The measure was first introduced in 2023 by then-freshman Sen. Kathleen Kauth, but failed to advance as lawmakers angrily argued over Kauth's other bill that sought to bar gender-affirming care for transgender minors under the age of 19. An amended version that banned gender-affirming surgery — but not all gender-affirming care — for minors later passed and was enacted that year.
On Wednesday, Kauth promised to revive her bathroom and locker room ban next year, reiterating her rejection that people can determine their own gender.
'Men are men and women are women,' she said, and urged voters in Riepe's district to pressure him to support it.
Republicans behind the sports ban say it protects women and girls and their ability to fairly compete in sports. Opponents say with so few transgender students seeking to participate in sports, the measure is a solution in search of a problem.
Fewer than 10 transgender students have participated in middle school and high school sports in the state over the past decade, according to the Nebraska School Activities Association.
At least 24 other states have adopted similar bans. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order this year intended to dictate which sports competitions transgender athletes can enter and has battled in court with Maine over that state's allowing transgender athletes in girls' and women's sports.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska denounced the measure.
ACLU Nebraska Executive Director Mindy Rush Chipman said the ban 'slams the door shut' for some transgender students to fully participate in their school communities.
'This ban will only create problems, not solve any,' Rush Chipman said, adding that 'the constant targeting of LGBTQ+ Nebraskans must stop.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
23 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
After 2 overtime games, Panthers and Oilers relish days off as Stanley Cup Final shifts to Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — After Brad Marchand scored the winning goal in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, he and Florida Panthers teammate Sam Bennett were asked how they kept their bodies going during another long and intense matchup against the Edmonton Oilers. 'I think (Marchand) grabbed a Blizzard … I think it was Oreo today,' Bennett quipped, referring to a viral moment during the Eastern Conference finals when Marchand joked that he enjoyed a chocolate chip cookie dough treat from Dairy Queen between periods — which was later revealed as a spoonful of honey. 'Nice plug,' Marchand responded with a chuckle. 'I like that.' They were joking, of course, but there was a point in Friday night's double-overtime game that Marchand spent time between periods pedaling on an exercise bike to stay loose — as players from both teams shuffled their tired bodies on and off the ice for hours. The first two games of the Stanley Cup Final have gone to overtime, only the sixth time in NHL history that's happened and first since 2014. Game 1 went on until Leon Draisaitl's power-play goal 19:29 into the extra period. Marchand put Game 2 to an end with a breakaway goal 8:07 into the second overtime. With the series tied 1-1, both teams will embark on a cross-continent trip from Canada to Florida, enjoying an extra day's rest between games to recover after an intense start to their championship series. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida. 'Obviously a long game, a lot of back and forth,' said Florida defenseman Seth Jones, who led the Panthers in ice time at 34 minutes, 35 seconds on Friday. Jones, who is averaging a team-high 25:45 on the ice in the postseason, played more than 30 minutes in both of the first two games of the series. He scored in the first period on Friday — his fourth goal of the postseason — and assisted on Dmitry Kulikov's goal in the second. 'We came here for a split and got it,' Jones added, 'and just going to recover now.' Panthers coach Paul Maurice said heading back to Florida with the series tied — instead of being down 0-2 — does make a minor mental difference, but one of his team's strengths is its tunnel vision approach. 'It's mathematically significant,' Maurice said. 'I'd like to think that we'd be dragging here today, this morning, if we had lost that game having had the lead for so long. But I think we're really good at cutting it off. 'It's the same morning this morning at the meal room as it was two days ago (after the Game 1 loss). It's just on to the next day. We understand how to leave our days — the good ones and the bad ones — in the past and handle the day we have right now.' The Oilers are moving forward in the series with an equally short memory after missed chances in Game 2. Corey Perry, whose goal with 17.8 seconds left in the third period forced overtime, said the back-and-forth nature of the series was to be expected from the two teams, but there's no use in getting hung up on 'what-ifs.' 'What's it going to do?' Perry said. 'It's not going to do anything for you now. Get on the plane tomorrow and get some rest and be ready for Game 3.' Few players have spent more time on the ice in the series than Connor McDavid. The Edmonton star played 31:12 in Game 1, and just over 35 minutes in Game 2 — more than anyone else in the game. That's nearly 10 minutes more than his postseason average of 24:22. McDavid's impact was certainly felt on Friday. He had three assists, including one in which he zipped through Florida's penalty kill to set up Draisaitl's power play goal in the first. Draisaitl noted after the game there's only one player in the world that can make such a highlight-reel play, but stressed the importance of using the two days off to recalibrate. 'At this time of year, you've got to move on,' he said, 'There's not time thinking about it too long. Obviously it stings right now, but we have to move on.' ___ AP NHL playoffs: and
Winnipeg Free Press
38 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Yankees' Anthony Volpe misses second game this season after being hit in the left elbow
NEW YORK (AP) — Anthony Volpe was not in the New York Yankees' lineup Saturday against the Boston Red Sox, a day after getting hit in the left elbow by Walker Buehler's pitch. The durable shortstop missed just his second game of the season. 'Just another day,' manager Aaron Boone said. 'I actually put him in the lineup overnight that I sent out and had him in there up until a couple of hours ago when he got here. Strength, everything's good. He's got a pretty good size swelling in there still. 'Just kind of talking with the trainers, they're like, I think it would do him well to try and get one more day and just get a lot of treatment in there and hopefully he'll be back in there tomorrow.' Volpe followed Jazz Chisholm Jr's three-run homer with his own two-run shot in a five-run first inning during New York's 9-6 victory on Friday. In the second inning, Volpe batted with the bases loaded was hit on the left elbow by Buehler's 88.2 mph changeup. He exited starting the fourth inning when the elbow swelled after he took off his brace and compression sleeve. Volpe had an X-ray at Yankee Stadium that was negative and went for a CT scan at New York-Presbyterian/ Columbia University Irving Medical Center that also didn't show any break. 'It's painful and stiff,' Volpe said Friday night. 'Knowing that it's structurally sound and you've got to just get the swelling out, definitely optimistic.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Volpe winced in pain but remained in the game after he was hit by the pitch, which forced in a run. The 24-year-old Gold Glove winner played the field in the third inning, then was replaced by Oswald Peraza at the start of the fourth. Volpe is batting .241 with eight homers and 37 RBIs and 11 of his last 19 hits are for extra bases. Volpe has played in 61 of 62 games, skipping May 4 game against Tampa Bay, a day after hurting his left shoulder on a dive trying to get to a grounder. ___ AP MLB:
Toronto Star
an hour ago
- Toronto Star
Kyle Johnson drives in 5 in Duke's 7-4 win over Murray State; Blue Devils seek first CWS since 1961
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Kyle Johnson drove in five runs to power Duke's 7-4 victory over Murray State on Saturday in the first game of the Durham Super Regional. The Blue Devils are one win from reaching the College World Series for the first time since 1961. Game 2 is Sunday.
