Nebraska Passes Stand With Women Act Barring Transgender Athletes

Nebraska’s legislature passed LB 89, also known as the Stand With Women Act, with 33 votes in favor and 16 against on Wednesday night. The law restricts transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that do not align with their sex assigned at birth. The measure passed with the exact number of votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

The debate surrounding LB 89 was deeply divisive. Opponents, including Senator George Dungan, criticized the bill as being hastily constructed and unclear in implementation. “It’s a Frankenstein cobbled together,” Dungan argued. Supporters, like Senator Lauren Lippincott, insisted that the legislation is about fairness, saying, “LB 89 is not about shutting doors, it’s about opening the right ones.”

Following the vote, opponents of the bill expressed disappointment, while the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) announced it would fully support the decision made by the governor and lawmakers.