On one side the Catholic Church and Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom, on the other side the Nebraska Medical Association and the Nebraska Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Those are just some of the players watching closely as one of the most contentious and controversial issues in this year’s Legislature, part of a two-week-long headline grabbing filibuster, is underway on the floor of the Legislature.

The issue, a bill targeting transgender individuals, the “Let Them Grow Act” which would prohibit gender altering procedures, including surgeries, for anyone under the age of 19. It would also allow civil-legal action against doctors involved in those procedures.

With several segments of the medical community against the bill, State Sen. Kathleen Kauth, who initiated the legislation, took the mic first defending her bill.

[View Sen. Kauth's remarks along with Sen. Megan Hunt's opposing view above]

State Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who opposes the bill, grabbed national media attention as she all but dragged the Legislature to a halt with one rule maneuver after another.

She ended her delaying tactics and agreed to a debate now, confident it won’t pass.

Twenty-three lawmakers have signed on to the measure, it takes 33 votes to move the bill forward.

That vote will likely come on Thursday.