A Friday morning session in Nebraska’s unicameral legislature descended into chaos after a Democratic lawmaker began calling out her support for transgender people in the middle of a debate over a bill to ban gender-changing procedures. sex to the minors of the state.
The bill, which was eventually approved by lawmakers and sent to Republican Gov. Jim Pillen’s desk to become law, bans sex-change procedures for minors as well as abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy
Voicing her disapproval of the measure Friday morning, Democratic state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh slapped the lectern and repeatedly shouted, “Transgender people belong here, we need trans people, we love trans people.”
“You matter. You matter and I fight for you. I won’t stop,” exclaimed Cavanaugh, who displays his pronouns in his Twitter bio. “I won’t stop today, I won’t stop tomorrow. You are loved. You matter. You belong here.”
NEBRASKA POLICE ARRESTS 6 AT STATE CAPITOL, INCLUDING WOMAN WHO PUSHED POLITICIAN AMID ABORTION, TRANS DEBATE
Nebraska state Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh shouts during a legislative session Friday amid debate over a bill to ban sex-change surgeries on transgender minors in the state. (Nebraska Public Media)
Cavanaugh’s rants during the legislature lasted just under a minute.
Cavanaugh also criticized conservatives who voted for the hybrid bill, which includes protections for unborn children, and warned that people, medical professionals and businesses will leave the state because of it.
“Your kids are posting things on social media, your kids are calling you guys,” Cavanaugh said. “You have to live with your vote… You have to live with the role you played in history in building today. You have to live with voting to take away people’s rights. You have to live with that . The rest of us have to live with the implications of that, but you have to live with that.”
“If you didn’t sleep after Tuesday night, think about it. You don’t have to vote for this,” he added, shortly before calling those who support the measure “weak.”
Cavanaugh also claimed that those who supported the measure “allowed themselves” to be “bought off by the governor.”
Republican lawmakers jockeyed for enough votes to end a filibuster and pass a bill with both measures. Governor Pillen, who pushed the bill and met with several lawmakers to bolster support, has pledged to sign it into law.
NEBRASKA ENDORSES ABORTION, JUVENILE SEX CHANGES TO SUPPORT GOBIER WRITING. PICK UP
Nebraska State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh stands among her supporters just after a vote in which the Nebraska Legislature passed a bill to ban abortion at 12 weeks and sex-change surgeries for minors on May 19, 2023 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (AP Photo/Margery Beck)
The measure’s 12-week abortion ban has exceptions for rape and incest. The bill would not allow transgender people under the age of 19 to undergo gender reassignment surgery, with some exceptions.
The state’s chief medical officer, a political appointee who is currently an ear, nose and throat doctor, would set rules for puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender minors in the state. There will be some exceptions for minors who were already receiving treatment before the ban was enacted.
Several Republicans expressed approval of the measure during the debate, including state Sen. Steve Erdman, who drew inconsistencies in Democrats’ arguments.
“Saying abortion is health care is like saying being raped is making love,” Erdman said at one point.
Friday’s debate was briefly halted when protesters on a chamber balcony rose and shouted obscenities at conservative lawmakers while throwing what appeared to be bloody tampons on the floor. As lawmakers began voting, chants of “Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame!” could be heard coming from outside the room.
At least six people were arrested at the Nebraska state capitol building after lawmakers approved the bill.
(Nebraska Capitol Security Camera)
At least 17 states have enacted laws restricting or banning transgender procedures, hormones and therapies for minors, and proposals are pending before the governors of Texas and Missouri. Medical groups and advocates say these restrictions further marginalize transgender youth and threaten their health.
North Carolina also passed a 12-week abortion ban this week, among a slew of restrictions enacted in states after the U.S. Supreme Court last year overturned Roe v. Fourteen states now have bans throughout pregnancy.
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Nebraska currently bans abortion past about 20 weeks and is one of multiple states that have recently passed abortion and transgender laws.
Last month, a proposed six-week ban did not advance.
Brie Stimson of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to the report.
