Silver State Times

Gov. Steve Sisolak (D-Nev.) is a leading national advocate for transgender youth who want to play sports and has criticized governors in other states – like Florida and Texas – who have passed bans, The Nevada Independent reported.

Jon Schweppe, director of policy and government affairs at the American Principles Project (APP), told Silver State Times he believes Nevada's allowing biological males to compete in female sports is an unjust status quo that cannot and should not be allowed. APP is a think tank that calls itself the only national pro-family organization engaging directly in campaigns and elections, according to its website.

"Women's sports are under serious threat in this country," Schweppe said. "Although there are many examples why, one need look no further than the recent NCAA women's swimming title won by Lia Thomas, a biological male who easily defeated the female competition."

Those cases are likely to increase "unless lawmakers take action, which is why 15 states have already acted to defend a fair playing field for female athletes," he said.

"Unfortunately, there are still too many states which allow biological males to compete against women and girls – states such as Nevada," Schweppe said. "This unjust status quo cannot be allowed to stand. It's time for lawmakers in the Silver State to pass a law to protect female athletes. With a clear majority of voters in support of such a move, there is no excuse for Nevada legislators not to act."

Transathlete.com, a website dedicated to advocating for transgender youth who wish to play high school sports, said Nevada is currently ranked as one of the most friendly states in the U.S. for the practice. Nevada is one of 16 states where transgender athletes are allowed to compete in sanctioned sports without restrictions, according to Transathlete, which tracks state policies and legislation.

A number of Republican-led states have recently established restrictions concerning transgender youth rights, according to KAKE. 

University of Pennsylvania transgender female swimmer Lia Thomas last month won the women's NCAA swimming championship in the 500-yard freestyle, NBC News reported. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) slammed Thomas' participation in women's events as an effort to destroy women's athletics.