Fridae

Voters in Nebraska and Arizona have approved ballot measures restricting transgender students’ participation in female school sports. Arizona’s measure also restricts access to private spaces provided for athletics. Ballotpedia reported both approvals on 4 November.

Nebraska’s Initiative 442 sets out a constitutional requirement for school and college teams to be designated male, female or mixed. It excludes transgender girls and women from female teams. The amendment covers public schools and postsecondary institutions, along with private institutions whose teams compete against them.

Arizona’s Proposition 318 extends the state’s existing female-team restriction to all schools and athletic associations covered by the measure. It defines sex by what was recorded at birth on an original birth certificate. From 1 January 2027, schools and associations providing private spaces for athletics, including restrooms and locker rooms, would be barred from allowing someone to use a space designated for a different sex.

The results are still unofficial in both states. Nebraska’s governor must issue a proclamation after the official canvass before its amendment can take effect.

Washington’s Initiative 638, covered earlier by Fridae, adds a separate eligibility check. Students entering female-only competitions must provide a signed statement from their personal healthcare provider verifying their sex.