LINCOLN, Neb. – A national effort to target transgender youth has come to Nebraska.
Today, Nebraska State Senator Kathleen Kauth introduced two bills impacting young transgender and gender-nonconforming Nebraskans. LB 574 would ban medical professionals from providing certain gender-affirming care for Nebraskans under 19 years old. LB 575 would override the Nebraska State Activities Association Gender Participation Policy, making it so that transgender youth explicitly cannot participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity.
Jane Seu, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nebraska legal & policy counsel, issued this statement in response.
“These proposals threaten young Nebraskans’ right to exist as exactly who they are,” Seu said. “Both bills are alarming acts of government overreach. From denying youth the opportunity to benefit from school sports to taking away decisions from Nebraska families and medical professionals — these are deeply harmful proposals. Trans youth belong in Nebraska, and they should be able to grow up as exactly who they are. Now is the time for Nebraskans who believe in equality to contact their state senators and demand that they protect these youth and respect their rights.”
The bills follow the introduction of LB 371, a criminal ban on all-ages drag show events. The ACLU of Nebraska has criticized the bill as part of a national effort to push LGBTQ+ people out of public life.
