Measure to ban trans girls from girls' sports leads in Washington
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A measure to ban trans girls from competing in girls' school sports was ahead Tuesday night in Washington state, according to initial election returns.
Why it matters: The measure put restrictions on transgender athletes to a statewide vote in a blue state where Democratic lawmakers have resisted similar proposals.
State of play: Initiative 638 was receiving 57% support and 43% opposition in initial election returns Tuesday night, according to the Washington secretary of state's office.
- More ballots will be counted in the vote-by-mail election in the coming days, which could shift the results.
Zoom in: If passed, I-638 would reverse Washington state's longstanding policy of letting trans students play on K-12 sports teams that match their gender identity.
- The measure would bar trans girls and other students assigned male at birth from participating in school sports competitions designated for girls.
How it works: Under I-638, all girls who want to participate in K-12 girls' sports would need to submit a statement from their health care provider verifying what the initiative calls their "biological sex."
- The verification would need to be based on at least one of the following: "the student's reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels," the measure's text says.
What they're saying: Supporters of I-638 say it's necessary to ensure fairness in girls sports. They argue that trans girls have an unfair competitive advantage when competing against girls who aren't transgender.
- Opponents say I-638 would discriminate against trans girls, while subjecting all girls to onerous medical checks to participate in school sports — something that the measure wouldn't require of boys.
Between the lines: The measure's supporters deny that additional medical exams would be required, noting that all kids undergo a physical to participate in sports.
- But the statewide group that governs middle- and high-school athletics — the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) — says its current rules don't require visual checks of girls' genitals, DNA testing or hormone testing as part of the required sports physical.
What's next: More results are set to be released Wednesday afternoon. Additional ballot counts will follow throughout the week.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.