A Nevada ballot measure that would enshrine in the state constitution the right of athletes who identify as transgender to compete on women’s sports teams is likely to be put before voters in November, drawing increased attention to the gubernatorial race.
Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo announced the “Protect Girls’ Sports” initiative last week after teasing it throughout last year. The measure would “amend the Equal Rights Amendment to protect fairness and integrity in girls’ athletics,” particularly regarding public funding, according to a press release.
“We are taking thoughtful steps to ensure girls’ sports are fair and athletes are safe,” Lombardo, who’s seeking re-election, said in a statement. “It’s important that female athletes have the opportunity to succeed in their athletic field. By bringing together a diverse coalition now, we can establish clear and fair standards that protect generations of female athletes to come.”
If the measure gathers enough signatures to qualify for a statewide vote, it would first be on the 2026 ballot as a question, then return to the 2028 ballot for final approval before being added to the constitution.
“Title IX was instituted for a reason – to create a level playing field so that girls and boys have an equal chance to succeed in our schools,” petition initiative director Adriana Guzmán Fralick said in a statement. “But there has been an attack on girls’ athletics that seeks to disrupt that equality. The people of Nevada do not support this, and I’m proud to help them make their voice heard on this issue at the ballot box.”
The issue is already a hot topic on the campaign trail, as Attorney General Aaron Ford, who is seeking the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, said he does not personally believe athletes who identify as transgender should compete in women’s sports, but nevertheless opposes the ballot initiative, according to the Nevada Independent.
“My faith teaches me that every person is a child of God and deserves to be treated with humanity, dignity, and respect,” the Democrat stated, according to the outlet. “And as Attorney General, I will continue defending the constitutional rights of every Nevadan.”
On December 23, Ford was listed on an amicus brief in a Minnesota case challenging a ban on transgender-identifying athletes. The brief states that “discrimination against transgender youth—including denying them the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities consistent with their gender identity—can have serious health consequences.”
The Daily Wire reported that Ford signed onto a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals amicus brief in 2023 regarding two minors who identified as transgender, and whether or not they could play on a girls’ sports team in Arizona.
“Plaintiffs simply want to participate on their school’s girl’s sports teams with their friends,” the brief said.
“They have not experienced any of the physiological changes associated with male puberty and have no ascertainable competitive advantage over their cisgender peers,” it continued, saying that the plaintiffs identified as “girls in all aspects of their lives since an early age.”
He also signed on to a 2022 amicus brief challenging an Arkansas law on “gender-affirming treatment” for minors.
“We must protect our children from discriminatory laws that bar access to necessary, gender-affirming health care,” Ford stated in 2022. “Over and over again, evidence has shown that denying transgender youth access to gender-affirming care has a detrimental effect to their mental health and quality of life.”
The Daily Wire reached out to the Ford campaign. At the national level, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in cases related to the issue.
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