Washington voters to decide I-638 on biological males in girls' sports

Washington voters will decide on November 3 whether to pass Initiative 638, a measure that would bar biological males from competing in girls' K-12 sports. The initiative reached the ballot after collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures across the state. If approved, Washington would become the first state to enact such a policy through a popular vote, distinguishing it from the 27 other states that have separated biological males and females in K-12 sports via legislative action.

The campaign gained visibility during a rally in Vancouver, Washington, where five women shared personal accounts of competing against biological males or sharing locker rooms with them. Frances Staudt, a senior at Tumwater High, stated she stopped playing basketball against a biological male and now faces daily harassment in school hallways. Alanna Smith, a former sprinter at Georgia Southern, said she felt defeated before a high school race began due to the presence of a biological male in the starting blocks. Bailey Andersen recalled a high school basketball game where a 6-foot biological male out-jumped her 6-foot-3 teammate and described boys flexing in the girls' locker room before the match.

Kendall Kotzmacher, a college softball player, lost her high school state championship to a team that started a biological male at pitcher. She reported that friends have abandoned her since she began speaking on the issue and that she has received death threats. Sadie Sullivan, a high school swimmer, said she regularly shared locker rooms with biological males while changing, describing the experience as disturbing.

Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics and a former national-team gymnast, attended the rally from her home in Colorado. Colorado voters will also consider a similar measure on the November 3 ballot. Sey expressed hope that passage in both states could trigger legislation in all 50 states. Staudt argued that if Washington approves the measure, it would demonstrate that other states could follow suit.

Opponents of Initiative 638 have warned that the policy would require girls to undergo invasive genital inspections to verify their gender. Tacoma City Councilmember Olgy Diaz used those exact words in July. The Seattle City Council and King County Democrats made similar claims, with King County Democrats stating that I-638 would require girls to undergo genital inspection to play sports. Brandi Kruse, who hosted the podcast "Undivided" and emceed the rally, called these claims a red herring, noting that the 27 states with existing separation policies do not conduct such inspections.

Democrat politicians have largely dismissed the debate over transgender athletes in sports as a non-issue. However, the measure is significant because Washington is a state President Donald Trump lost in 2024. Recent events in Washington state illustrate the stakes: last year, trans track athlete Veronica Garcia won the state title in the 400 meters for East Valley High in Spokane Valley. This year, a boy from Camas High switched to the girls' cross-country team midseason and is currently dominating. Additionally, a Washington family requested a Supreme Court injunction after their daughter was allegedly assaulted by a trans athlete last year.