Nebraska lawmakers recently held an extensive public hearing to discuss LB89, a proposed bill that would restrict transgender individuals to sports teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms that correspond to their sex assigned at birth. The hearing lasted over 10 hours and heard testimony from more than 100 people, with the majority opposing the bill.
Supporters of the bill, including Sen. Kathleen Kauth, emphasized its intention to protect women and girls, specifically citing President Trump’s executive order on transgender athletes and the NCAA’s policy changes. Kauth argued that the bill would provide a “supportive framework” for Nebraska to follow suit. The bill also addresses bathroom and locker room access, mandating that these spaces be classified based on assigned sex.
Opponents of LB89, including organizations like the ACLU of Nebraska, OutNebraska, and the Women’s Fund of Omaha, argued that the bill would create discrimination, harm transgender individuals, and fail to address actual issues faced by women and girls. Several testifiers highlighted concerns about gender policing, with examples of cisgender women being misidentified in bathrooms.
Transgender individuals testified about how the bill could harm their livelihood and safety, citing the potential humiliation of being forced into a restroom that does not align with their gender identity.
Despite the overwhelming opposition, the bill’s supporters, such as Gov. Jim Pillen and volleyball player Rebekah Allick, defended LB89, calling it a common-sense measure to ensure fairness and safety for women in sports and locker rooms.
The committee has not yet taken action on the bill, and if it advances, it will require significant support to move forward in the legislative process.