Proposal to make same-sex sports a Nebraska constitutional law will appear on November ballot

The petition collected over 211,000 signatures in just 113 days.

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Ballot initiative seeks to make same-sex sports in schools a Nebraska constitutional law

, Neb. —

A ballot initiative seeking to make same-sex sports in Nebraska schools permanent breaks the state record for the number of signatures.

This past legislative session, lawmakers implemented this as state law.

However, the Fairness for Girls ballot initiative seeks to put it into the Nebraska constitution.

The petition collected over 211,000 signatures in just 113 days. Sponsors of the initiative said it breaks the state record and will appear on the ballot in November.

More than $3.1 million went toward funding this initiative.

$1.6 million of that contribution is the highest donation the state has seen this election cycle, according to the Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission’s website.

“We are so grateful to the amazing people who made this happen, and we’re looking forward to November,” Julie Slama said, a sponsor and former state lawmaker.

Slama said the proposed idea would make same-sex sports in schools a constitutional law in Nebraska.

“I worry that that might cause more segregation issues and more fear,” said Kellie Wise.

Wise is a former five-year Omaha tackle football player. She said she had concerns about getting injured from transgender players, but it never happened.

“My three injuries that I had, had nothing to do with transgender players whatsoever,” she said.

Nebraska U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts said that having sports separated by sex allows a fair playing field for girls.

“It’s a safety issue. It’s also a fairness for scholarships issue to make sure we have a level playing field,” Ricketts said. “We need to make sure it’s just women and girls competing in women’s and girls’ sports.”

Wise worries this ballot initiative will impact student-athletes aspiring to play in traditionally male-dominated sports.

“I don’t know if there’s going to be enough transgenders to form a football team, and I don’t know if there’s going to be enough women to form a football team,” Wise said.

The U.S. Supreme Court made several rulings Tuesday, including a decision to allow states to ban transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams.

Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen responded to this development and said in a statement:

“Today’s ruling affirms many of the actions we have taken in Nebraska through the issuance of the Women’s Bill of Rights, passage of the Stand with Women Act and my support of Sen. Kauth’s LB730 last session.

“Men do not belong in women’s sports or spaces. The Supreme Court’s decision affirming the rights of states to initiate these bans is a significant victory — one that will ensure fairness and fair play in women’s sports.”

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