Statewide - Initiative Measure No. IL26-638

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Statement For · Alesha Perkins, Dori Whitford, Carol Brown, Erica Li, Ahnaleigh Wilson, Jess Grant

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Committee: 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

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.

Rebuttal of argument against

Don’t be misled by the opposition. IL26-638 doesn’t require invasive or expensive exams. Standard primary pediatric care already verifies sex; transferring that record to sports is sufficient. Male athletic advantage is well established. Washington competition results document at least 269 placements by male athletes competing in girls’ interscholastic categories, including 74 firsts and 156 top-three finishes. The initiative doesn’t ban anyone from sports. It simply requires participation consistent with one’s sex. Vote yes.

Statement Against · Justin Gill, Courtney Normand, Karen Crowley, Grace Shih, Katie Johnson, Paul Charbonneau

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Committee: 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

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 mega-donor 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.

Rebuttal of argument for

IL26-638 is opposed by pediatricians, nurses, parents, and sexual assault prevention groups because it discriminates against girls and puts them at risk of harm. Today girls in elementary, middle, and high school remain fully clothed during sports physicals. Doctors say this poorly written measure will subject girls to new invasive genital examinations. This measure - the most extreme in the nation - exempts boys, and bans parents from using birth certificates. Vote No to protect girls.