WA Democrats: Fight over transgender girls’ sports ban ‘just beginning’

Washington state Democrats pledged Thursday to challenge Washington’s newly approved ban on transgender girls in school sports, saying the fight over the measure “is just beginning.”

The state party said it believes Initiative 638 is unconstitutional and will support court challenges to overturn the measure after voters approved it in Tuesday’s election. The Associated Press called the measure after the initiative secured 56.6% of the vote.

The measure requires students seeking to compete in girls’ sports to verify their sex through medical testing, including chromosome testing, testosterone testing, or a physical examination.

Democrats criticize transgender sports ban as supporters celebrate vote

In a statement, Washington State Democratic Party Chair Shasti Conrad called the result “incredibly disheartening” and said the initiative rolls back protections that have existed in Washington law for 20 years. She also pointed to the election of Jaelynn Scott, whom Democrats said will become the first Black transgender woman elected to a state legislature in U.S. history.

Supporters of the measure said voters delivered a clear message in favor of protecting girls’ sports.

“To every female athlete who wondered whether her voice mattered: tonight, Washington heard you,” Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, said in a statement on election night. “Five years from now, I hope girl athletes don’t know this fight took place, because that will mean that boys know their place is not in girls’ sports.”

Opponents argued the measure unfairly targets transgender students and imposes invasive requirements on all girls who participate in school athletics.

More than half of U.S. states have enacted restrictions on transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports, but Washington is among the first to require medical verification of sex for youth athletics.

At the time the race was called, only King, Jefferson, San Juan, and Whatcom counties were voting against the measure.

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