Voters in Colorado Washington and Nebraska Weigh Rules for Transgender Athletes

Voters in Colorado and Washington are set to consider measures restricting transgender students’ participation in girls’ sports, while Colorado’s ballot also includes a proposal to prohibit certain gender-related surgeries for minors. Colorado’s sports proposal would classify school teams by sex but leaves schools to decide how to verify students’ sex, prompting concerns about intrusive or inconsistent checks; supporters say the measure protects female athletics. Washington’s initiative would require students to provide healthcare-provider documentation of biological sex, a requirement opponents say could lead to invasive exams or costly testing, while supporters argue it would preserve fair competition. In Nebraska, the state Supreme Court ruled that a proposed constitutional amendment restricting transgender athletes’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports can remain on the ballot, rejecting a challenge to its wording.