“It is common sense that men do not belong in women’s only spaces,” said Governor Pillen of the executive order. “As Governor, it is my duty to protect our kids and women’s athletics, which means providing single-sex spaces for women’s sports, bathrooms, and changing rooms.”On Wednesday, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed an executive order establishing a Women's Bill of Rights in the state.
Nebraska is the second state to implement a Women's Bill of Rights. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed a similar executive order earlier this month.
The order addresses biological differences between males and females.
"Males and females possess unique and immutable biological differences that manifest prior to birth and increase as they age and experience puberty," reads the executive order. "Biological differences between the sexes mean that males are, on average, bigger, stronger, and faster than females." Women have achieved inspirational and significant accomplishments in education athletics, and employment; biological differences between the sexes are enduring and may. in some circumstances. warrant the creation of separate social, educational, athletic, or other spaces in order to ensure safety and/or to allow members of each sex to succeed and thrive: and inconsistencies in court rulings and policy initiatives with respect to the definitions of "sex." "male." "female." "man." and "woman" have led to endangerment of single-sex space: and resources, thereby necessitating clarification of certain terms.
The executive order asserts a person's "sex" is defined by his or her biological sex (either male or female) at birth.
"A "female" is an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova," the order reads. "Male is an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female."
The order further asserts that "woman" and "girl" refer to human females while "man" and "boy" refer to human males along with "mother" and "father" similarly representing their biological sex.
"There are legitimate reasons to distinguish between the sexes with respect to athletes, prisons or other detention facilities, domestic violence shelters, rape crisis centers, locker rooms, restrooms, and other areas where biology, safety and/or privacy are implicated," the order continues. "Any public school or school district and any state agency, department, or office that collects vital statistics for the purpose of complying with anti-discrimination laws or for the purpose of gathering accurate public health, crime, economic, or other data shall identity each individual who is part of the collected data set as either male or female at birth."
The order took effect immediately.
"Today Governor Pillen, famous women's rights supporter, signed this offensive and ridiculous proclamation establishing a "Women's Bill of Rights," wrote State Senator Megan Hunt critical of the executive order. "He should try saying this stuff to my face then we would see who’s got what biological advantage"
"To be serious, [Pillen's administration] should be aware of all the federal funding that could be taken away from Nebraska were this proclamation to be enforced," she continued in another post. "Federal funding sources for domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers have provisions protecting trans survivors."
"I know Governor Pillen probably hates that fact that trans people would ever be protected or safe, but that’s how it works today and he’s putting Nebraskans in danger by continuing to make this group the entire focus of his ignorant and discriminatory agenda."
In another post, Hunt said Governor Pillen "took advantage" of the historic day, choosing to divide the population.
"The truth is, no executive order can erase trans people," she wrote adding a transgender pride flag emoji. "They have always existed and always will."
