Washington Ballot Initiative Seeks Invasive Verification for Trans Girls in School Sports

Initiative 638, placed on the upcoming Washington statewide ballot, would bar students who identify as female but were assigned male at birth from competing on girls’ teams unless they undergo a genital examination or provide costly genetic or hormone testing. Boys would not be subject to comparable verification. The measure was introduced by Let’s Go Washington, a political action committee founded by hedge-fund manager Brian Heywood. Proponents cite a Supreme Court decision in June that upheld the constitutionality of similar bans. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association reports awareness of roughly 10 trans athletes among more than 200,000 student-athletes statewide.

The Guardian

More than 140 healthcare providers, including nurses and physicians, have issued a joint statement opposing the initiative. Washington State Nurses Association board member Kelsey Gellner, a pediatric nurse, argues the requirement creates an “unsafe barrier” for girls. Family doctor Libby Loft of Spokane says the law forces physicians to examine reproductive anatomy rather than rely on birth certificates, which she deems inappropriate for a sports physical. Seattle high-school teacher and former cross-country coach John Gallagher describes the policy as “incredibly exclusionary.” School counselor Jaime Fineman-McKinney warns the parallel school-records proposal could force counselors to disclose LGBTQ+ students’ private information, endangering vulnerable youth.

The Guardian

The No Hate in Washington State campaign, led by manager Libby Watson, has organized a coalition of nearly 600 endorsers—including U.S. Senator Patty Murray and Planned Parenthood—and mobilized over 6,300 volunteers for door-knocking, phone-banking, and canvassing. Organizers contend the measure targets a very small population and frames trans girls as “villains.” They argue the initiative distracts from broader economic concerns such as housing and gas prices. Let’s Go Washington’s funding advantage has been noted, but the opposition remains confident of defeating both Initiative 638 and a separate school-records measure at the polls.

The Guardian

• “I tell my kids and patients that my No 1 job is to keep them safe,” — Gellner

The Guardian

• “The way the measure is written says that I, as a physician, cannot rely on a birth certificate,” — Libby Loft, a family doctor in Spokane

The Guardian

• “I don’t see this as a way to level the playing field for girls, and we’re making a villain out of trans girls who are children,” — Libby Loft, a family doctor in Spokane

The Guardian

• “While I believe that a vast majority of people who enter the medical profession do it for the right reason, writing legislation that opens the door to predators is just not responsible,” — Gellner

The Guardian

• “To me, this particular policy is incredibly exclusionary,” — John Gallagher, a Seattle-based high school teacher and former cross-country coach

The Guardian