Four States Approve Transgender Sports Restrictions

Voters in Colorado, Washington, Arizona and Nebraska approved or strengthened restrictions on transgender students’ participation in girls’ sports, a rare conservative win in a midterm election otherwise marked by Democratic gains. Colorado and Washington became the first Democratic-leaning states to adopt such restrictions through ballot initiatives; Colorado’s rules apply to school teams from kindergarten through college, while Washington requires a health-care provider to verify the sex of students seeking to play on girls’ teams. Arizona’s measure extends restrictions to private sports organizations and limits access to certain bathrooms and locker rooms based on sex assigned at birth, while Nebraska’s measure strengthens existing restrictions. Colorado voters also narrowly approved Proposition 135, which bars specified gender-related surgeries for minors and prohibits public funding or insurance coverage for them, while leaving nonsurgical care unaffected. Supporters cited fairness and safety in sports and the irreversible nature of surgery; opponents and medical and LGBTQ+ advocates warned of harm to transgender youth, privacy and discrimination concerns, intrusive verification, and possible legal challenges.