Voters Approve Constitutional Sports Ban

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska voters have approved Initiative 442, a constitutional amendment that enshrines the state’s current statutory ban on transgender youth participating in school athletics in the Nebraska Constitution.

Journalists covering the vote are welcome to use this statement from ACLU of Nebraska Policy Director Cassy Ross:

“While this vote essentially changes nothing in terms of Nebraska students’ legal rights, we are going to be increasingly vigilant for reports of students facing increased harassment and discrimination. Many Nebraskans who voted for this measure may not know that sports bans actually put students at risk by inviting gender policing and accusations, especially toward girls who do not fit certain stereotypes such as what their build or hair ‘should’ look like,” Ross said. “It is very troubling that instead of addressing real challenges facing Nebraskans, political forces spent millions of dollars targeting a small population of kids. Nebraskans deserve better than manufactured fear and division. And all students, including transgender students, deserve a level playing field, a supportive school environment and the freedom to be themselves.”