Initiative 638State law · Citizen initiative
Require sex-based girls' sports rules
Explain it like I'm 5
This would restrict girls' sports to students the measure defines as biologically female. A health care provider would verify eligibility.
Yes vote
Schools and covered nonprofit athletic groups must bar biologically male students from female-only competitions and require provider verification.
No vote
Current Washington athletics policies remain in place.
The question to ask yourself
Should girls' sports eligibility be based on biological sex, even if verification burdens transgender and other students?
The case for
- Separate sex categories may protect fair competition and opportunities created for female athletes.
- A statewide rule would give schools and teams one consistent eligibility standard.
- Supporters say biological measures are more objective than gender identity for sports categories.
Backed by: Let's Go Washington
The case against
- The measure excludes transgender girls and opponents call that discriminatory.
- Provider verification may burden privacy and access, even if the text allows several forms of evidence.
- A blanket rule may treat athletes differently without considering individual circumstances.
Opposed by: ACLU of Washington, Washington Education Association, Washington State PTA, No Hate in WA State, Defend Washington
- Money
- A statewide cost estimate was not provided in the sources reviewed, although schools could face administrative costs.
- Don't be misled
- It is misleading to say the measure automatically requires genital examinations because the text allows other medical evidence, but verification could still be intrusive.