LB 89 Is Law. My Firm Stands With Trans Nebraskans, Always.
Pride Month is a time for celebration. But this year in Nebraska, it is also a stark reminder of how far we still have to go. On June 4, 2025, during Pride Month, Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 89—the so-called “Stand With Women Act”—into law. This legislation directly challenges the dignity, rights, and inclusion of our transgender neighbors here in Nebraska.
Under LB 89, students in Nebraska’s K-12 public schools, community colleges, state colleges, and the University of Nebraska system will be required to participate in sports according to their “biological sex” as now defined in Nebraska law. Interscholastic and intramural teams designated for girls and women will be closed to trans girls and women. Beyond athletics, LB 89 codifies a legal definition of sex rooted in reproductive biology—aligning with Governor Pillen’s 2023 executive order—and potentially laying the groundwork for future restrictions on bathroom and locker room access, healthcare, and broader legal recognition of trans Nebraskans.
Supporters have framed LB 89 as a “common sense” law to “protect fairness” in women’s sports. But let’s be clear about what this is: a transgender youth sports ban. It explicitly bars trans girls and women from participating on teams that match their gender identity. And while the bill does not spell out a verification process, it opens the door to challenges where student-athletes may be forced to “prove” their sex—a practice that has led to invasive, humiliating scrutiny in other states.
This law is not unique to Nebraska. It is part of a well-organized national campaign. Nebraska is now the 28th state to enact this kind of legislation. Groups like the Independent Women’s Forum and Alliance Defending Freedom have provided model language for bills like LB 89 across the country. And Senator Kathleen Kauth, the bill’s sponsor, has publicly pledged that “the work is not done”—with future legislation aimed at restricting bathroom and locker room access already in the works.
Local advocacy groups have made their opposition clear. OutNebraska called LB 89 “harmful legislation” and said, “our hearts break for the young children and families who will be harmed.” The Women’s Fund of Omaha condemned the bill as “unnecessary and discriminatory,” stating, “trans-inclusive sports policies do not harm cisgender youth” and emphasizing that this law does nothing to address the real inequities caused by sex discrimination in athletics.
LB 89 is expected to take effect in early September 2025. This legislative action will further deepen the hostile climate that transgender students already face in our schools—adding to the burdens of bullying, exclusion, and the mental health risks that trans youth already endure at disproportionately high rates.
As an LGBTQ+ owned law firm, I want to say this clearly: I oppose LB 89. I oppose any effort to strip trans Nebraskans of their rights, dignity, or safety. At Zachary W. Anderson Law, we affirm that trans women are women, trans men are men, and nonbinary Nebraskans deserve full legal recognition and equality. We stand with LGBTQ+ families, trans youth, and everyone affected by this law.
It is no coincidence that this bill was signed during Pride Month. But Pride has always been about resistance. About refusing to be erased. About building a Nebraska where all of us belong.
If you or your family needs legal support—whether for family law, estate planning, name or gender marker changes, or simply a lawyer who will treat you with dignity and care—I invite you to reach out. You can contact me at 402-259-0059 or zach@zandersonlaw.com. You are seen. You are valued. You are not alone.