Nebraska lawmakers failed to move forward with a bill that would prohibit transgender student-athletes from competing in sports of the opposite sex.
Legislative Bill 575, the Sports and Spaces Act, would also require transgender students to use the bathroom consistent with their biological sex. The bill was met with heavy opposition from LGBT activists, who said it discriminated against transgender people. The Republican-dominated Senate failed to achieve the two-thirds majority vote needed to overcome the Democratic filibuster, effectively killing the legislation.
Of the 49 state senators, only 31 voted to end the debate and force a vote — falling two votes short of the threshold needed. Two Republican state senators abstained from voting, claiming the bill was incomplete.
“This bill is incomplete, and it needs to be reworked,” Republican state Sen. Tom Brandt told the Hill.
“My fear is it’ll affect all female athletes,” said Republican state Sen. Kathleen Kauth, the bill’s primary sponsor, expressing disappointment in the two state senators who abstained.
“I am disappointed that two of our senators decided to not vote on the bill. I would have liked the opportunity to make adjustments,” she added.
“I will be bringing it back next session,” she added.
Democrats celebrated the bill’s failure, painting it as a victory for equality.
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“We all know what this is about, no matter how we dress it up,” Democratic state Sen. Lynne Walz said. “It’s discrimination. It’s a blanket ban on trans kids participating in extracurricular activities.”
Kauth was the lawmaker behind last year’s successful effort to restrict transgender surgeries and puberty blockers for minors. Activists challenged the law, but a judge upheld it in August.
