Battle Brewing Over Who Can Play
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada is threatening to sue school districts that prevent transgender girls from playing on girls’ sports teams. They say a new rule by the Nevada high school sports group (NIAA) breaks the state’s constitution.
The NIAA made a rule in April: students can only play on teams that match what’s on their original birth certificate. This followed President Trump’s February order that schools must keep boys and girls’ sports separate or risk losing federal funds.
“From our vantage point, districts should have courage,” said ACLU Nevada Director Athar Haseebullah. “They should have spine when it comes to protecting all of their students.”
Read our prior coverage:
Lieutenant Governor’s Task Force Triumphs as Nevada NIAA Votes to Protect Female Athletes
Why This Matters to Conservatives
For folks who believe in limited government, this fight matters for several reasons.
First, it’s about keeping the government from forcing schools to ignore basic biological differences. Many conservatives believe that birth certificates reflect biological reality that matters in sports.
Second, many parents worry that without these rules, girls might lose chances to win competitions, get noticed by college scouts, or earn scholarships. Some studies show that males generally have physical advantages in sports, even after hormone treatments.
What’s Happening Now
The Washoe County School District says it will follow the new rules. Their own rulebook says they have to stick with whatever the state sports group decides.
The district has to check if someone questions whether a girl on a team is transgender. A doctor would need to sign papers about the student’s eligibility.
Before this change, students could play on teams matching how they see themselves, with school approval.
The Push Against the Rules
The American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada isn’t happy. They say these rules break the state’s Equal Rights Amendment, which voters passed in 2022.
That amendment protects people from being treated differently based on things like race, sex, or gender identity.
Athar Haseebullah from the ACLU said:
“We were hoping districts were to launch their own challenges to these policies, but it doesn’t seem that is something they are considering. It’s disappointing.”
The ACLU says it plans to sue school districts that follow these rules.
Looking Ahead
This battle is just heating up. Two bills in the Nevada Legislature that would have made the ban a state law died in April. But with the President’s order in place, schools feel they must follow these rules or risk losing federal dollars.
For conservatives who value limited government, this is a chance to support local school boards standing their ground on an issue they see as common sense. Some are showing up at school board meetings to voice support, while others are writing to thank officials for protecting girls’ sports.
Beth Smith, the Washoe County School Board President, seems to be taking a wait-and-see approach:
“I think it’s better right now to see how things play out,”
With the ACLU threatening lawsuits, this issue will likely end up in court. The outcome could affect how schools handle sports teams across Nevada and beyond.
For now, the rules stand: high school athletes in Nevada will play on teams matching their original birth certificates.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
