Initiative Measure No. IL26-638 concerns participation in athletics at K-12 schools.
Dead link replaced: ofm.wa.gov/budget/state-budgets/fiscal-impact-statements-ballot-measures returned 404; replaced with ofm.wa.gov/spending/fiscal-impact/statements-general-election/ (target of the official ofm.wa.gov/ballot short link cited in the pamphlet).
WA publishes no official "a YES vote means" text; yes_means/no_means null. Attorney General explanatory statement provided in explanatory_statement.
rebuttal_pro = rebuttal of the argument FOR (written by opponents); rebuttal_con = rebuttal of the argument AGAINST (written by proponents).
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Initiative Measure No. IL26-638 concerns participation in athletics at K-12 schools. This measure would prohibit students it defines as “biologically male” from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only. It would require verification of biological sex by students’ healthcare providers. Should this measure be enacted into law?
Not published by the state
Not published by the state
The Law as It Presently Exists In Washington, school districts may offer extracurricular sports opportunities for students. Those sports must be offered to all public school students without regard to sex, but public schools may provide separate athletic teams based on sex. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction also creates regulations and guidelines to eliminate discrimination in sports for students, and these regulations prohibit discrimination based on sex and gender identity. Public and private K-12 schools in Washington may allow individual athletes and teams to compete against athletes and teams from other schools. For public schools, a school district’s board of directors is responsible for regulating these athletic activities but may delegate that responsibility to a nonprofit organization, such as the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). A nonprofit organization that regulates interschool sports may not discriminate on the basis of sex and must have written rules and policies regarding student participation. The Effect of the Proposed Measure if Approved If approved, this initiative would change participation rules for interschool sports. This initiative would, in its own language, prohibit “biologically male students from competing with and against female students” on sports teams or in individual events that are designated for female students only. This would generally prevent transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams. This prohibition would affect public K-12 schools and also private schools that participate in the WIAA or similar nonprofit organizations. Students who want to participate in interschool sports teams or individual events that are designated for female students only would have to provide a form that verifies the student’s “biological sex.” That form must be signed by the student’s personal health care provider. The verification would have to be based on the student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels. Students would thus have to undergo some type of medical evaluation of their sex to participate in interschool sports designated for female students only. 21
If approved by voters, Initiative Measure No. IL26-638 would prohibit students it defines as “biologically male” from competing in certain school athletic activities intended for female students only. It requires verification of biological sex by students’ healthcare providers. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction would incur minor costs to update current guidance. Local school districts may also incur costs to revise existing policies, procedures, rules, and other requirements, but this fiscal impact is indeterminate.
Vote yes to protect fairness in girls’ sports. Female athletes deserve fair opportunities to build confidence, develop skills, and pursue goals. Let’s protect those opportunities and affirm the hard-fought rights established through Title IX in 1972, which expanded athletic access for women by recognizing the necessity of the female category. Washington currently allows males to compete against girls, undermining opportunities generations before them fought to secure. Approving IL26-638 would align Washington with world sports policies. Federal law, the Women’s Tennis Association, World Athletics, and the International Olympic Committee have all adopted policies to protect eligibility for the female category. In March 2026, the IOC president stated, “It is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.” Voting yes gives all students the opportunity to participate in interscholastic sports. Medical clearance is already required to participate safely. Students would compete in the category that aligns with their sex, verified during routine, medically necessary primary care recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. During a private, consented visit, a licensed medical professional would verify sex based on the student’s birth records, medical history and/or a standard, non-invasive physical examination. Washington can respect every student while recognizing that sex-based athletic categories are necessary. A female athlete should not lose a starting position, medal, championship, or college recruiting opportunity because the category created for her was not protected.
Alesha Perkins, Parent and Education Advocate, Independent Writer; Dori Whitford, High School Coach, Track and Cross Country; Carol Brown, Olympic Bronze Medalist, Rowing Board Member, ICONS; Erica Li, MD, Board-Certified Pediatrician; Ahnaleigh Wilson, Student Athlete, Girls’ Sports Advocate; Jess Grant, Member, Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender | Contact: diagwash@gmail.com; www.di-ag.org
Justin Gill, APRN, President, WA State Nurses Association; Courtney Normand, WA State Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Karen Crowley, President, League of Women Voters of WA; Grace Shih, M.D., Family Physician; Katie Johnson, RN, Retired School Nurse; Paul Charbonneau, High School Girls’ Wrestling Coach | Contact: NoHateInWAState.org/About-I-638; info@nohateinwastate.org
Vote No To Protect All Girls We all want fairness and safety in sports, but this poorly written measure would require girls as young as 8 to undergo intrusive medical sex certification as a new part of sports physicals. It bans parents from using birth certificates. Section 2 says doctors must subject girls to invasive examinations of their “reproductive organs,” or expensive genetic or hormone tests. These requirements apply to girls only, boys are exempt. Vote No Because It’s the Most Extreme Proposal of Its Kind In The U.S This initiative is bankrolled by an ultra-conservative megadonor to distract from rising costs, foster hate, and divide our communities. It’s playing politics with kids, and putting girls at risk. Vote No Because Doctors and Nurses Warn It Requires Invasive Genital Exams On Girls The WA State Nurses Association, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, and doctors warn this measure would subject girls to medically unnecessary, embarrassing, and potentially harmful genital exams. Today, students remain fully clothed during sports physicals. Many of Washington’s 147,500 girls without a regular family doctor would be subject to genital examinations by total strangers. Vote No Because It Discourages Girls From Playing Sports Coaches and athletes say if we truly cared about girls’ sports we would not put up more barriers for girls like invasive genital exam requirements. This statewide blanket ban to kick 5 - 10 trans girls off school teams will negatively impact all girls, leaving no room for case by case decisions.
Justin Gill, APRN, President, WA State Nurses Association; Courtney Normand, WA State Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Karen Crowley, President, League of Women Voters of WA; Grace Shih, M.D., Family Physician; Katie Johnson, RN, Retired School Nurse; Paul Charbonneau, High School Girls’ Wrestling Coach | Contact: NoHateInWAState.org/About-I-638; info@nohateinwastate.org
Alesha Perkins, Parent and Education Advocate, Independent Writer; Dori Whitford, High School Coach, Track and Cross Country; Carol Brown, Olympic Bronze Medalist, Rowing Board Member, ICONS; Erica Li, MD, Board-Certified Pediatrician; Ahnaleigh Wilson, Student Athlete, Girls’ Sports Advocate; Jess Grant, Member, Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender | Contact: diagwash@gmail.com; www.di-ag.org
Both columns use the same layout. Text is quoted from the official state guide. Views expressed belong to the argument authors.