‘Fairness for Girls’ Ballot Initiative Turns in 'Record-Setting' Number of Signatures
by Matt Johnson and Lewis Thune
(Picture credit Lewis Thune)
LINCOLN — The “Fairness for Girls” initiative announced on Tuesday that they turned in a “record-setting” number of signatures for their ballot initiative aimed at requiring teams to be designated and restricted on the basis of biological sex.
The announcement comes two days before the deadline on Thursday, July 2.
This election cycle has been a banner year for statewide ballot initiatives, with a dozen circulating across Nebraska as petitioners gather signatures.
“Nebraskans sent a clear message by delivering the most signatures for any ballot initiative in state history. Girls deserve equal opportunities in their sports,” Former State Sen. Julie Slama, a sponsor of the measure, said in a statement. “Men competing in girls’ sports steal their opportunities to earn scholarships, medals, and advancement in tournaments.”
The measure, which seeks to amend the state constitution, needed 10% of the state’s registered voters to make the ballot. The group announced at a press conference on Tuesday in the Capitol Rotunda that they had turned in 211,000 signatures.
“As a father of two daughters, young girls’ safety cannot be jeopardized by men competing in their sports,” Rob Schafer, a University of Nebraska Regent and initiative sponsor, said. “Men competing in girls’ volleyball, basketball, and wrestling pose a significant safety risk due to physical differences. We must protect young girls and women.”
The turn-in press conference was attended by Senator Pete Ricketts, State Treasurer Joey Spellerberg, as well as the ballot sponsors.
GOP Lawmakers Support Petition
The petition has been embraced publicly by several prominent Republicans this year, including Ricketts and Governor Jim Pillen, who both shared social media posts earlier this month after signing the petition.
Last week, Rebecca Rens, running for state legislature in District 10, held a signing event for the petition at Sunny Slope Park in Omaha.
“I have three daughters. They’re grown adults now, but they all played in high school and college athletics,” Rens told The Plains Sentinel. “My youngest was, as a matter of fact, a college soccer player. I think about college soccer and the fact that if she had been competing against men in a highly combative sport like that, with no gear, the danger for her. Also, the amount of playing time she probably would not have received. She was able to get a college scholarship because she was a really great soccer player, but if she had had to compete against men, I’m guessing her scholarship opportunities would have been minimized as well.”
In 2025, the “Stand With Women Act” (LB 89) was signed into law by Pillen, which enforces biological sex-based restrictions for K-12 and postsecondary school sports. It does not, however, automatically bind all University of Nebraska athletics, which is handled in part by the Board of Regents. The “Fairness for Girls” initiative would embed these protections in the state constitution, making them far more difficult for future legislatures to alter or rescind.
While many Republicans have publicly supported the effort, Democrats have been largely quiet.
A Republican political consultant, speaking on background, said the measure enjoys broad support—62–67% overall and nearly 60% in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District.
“Even Democrats have daughters who have spent their entire lives working really hard, and they don’t want to see them lose scholarships or opportunities—so that crosses that barrier as well,” the consultant said.
The push is also fueled by significant funding. The Fairness for Girls committee has received $3.1 million from the 501(c)(4) “Restore the Good Life Inc.” An opposition committee, “Fairness for All,” was registered earlier this month by Second House Collaborative and OutNebraska. The opposition has no financial contributions listed so far.
— Matt Johnson is a freelance reporter with The Plains Sentinel.
— Lewis Thune is a writing fellow with The Plains Sentinel.