A recent KUOW article shed new light on what measures IL26-001 and IL26-638 could mean for Washington students if they pass this November.
Their reporting confirms what we already know: student athletes seeking to participate in girls’ sports could be required to undergo genital examinations, genetic testing, or blood tests measuring testosterone levels.
Medical professionals and school sports officials note that these requirements would be a significant departure from how Washington has managed school sports participation for years. They also have serious concerns about how these measures would be implemented—and how they would negatively affect accessibility.
Dr. Grace Shih, a family medical doctor, warned that students in rural communities or those living without regular access to healthcare could face hurdles that prevent them from playing school sports at all.
All of this comes despite the fact that the Office of Superintendent is aware of only 5-10 transgender student athletes among more than 200,000 student athletes competing across Washington.
It’s unfortunately crystal clear what is happening here. MAGA mega-donor Brian Heywood may claim these ballot measures are about “fairness” and “safety” in girls’ sports, but in reality, this is about forcing his own personal conservative agenda in our state, even if that means marginalizing trans youth and adding barriers to playing school sports.
The stakes for Washington’s youth could not be clearer this November. Our job is to ensure every Washington voter understands the stakes for students and the real-world consequences that we will all feel.
Thank you,
No Hate HQ
NO HATE in WA State is a campaign of Washington parents, medical professionals, teachers, students, and community members standing against ballot measures IL26-001 and IL26-638 that would endanger Washington students and hurt our schools.
Reject the hate, bullying, and harassment of our students. Join us today.
NO HATE in WA State
PO Box 21961
Seattle, WA 98111
United States