WHY VOTE NO on Initiative IL26-638
Washingtonians respect and care for each other. We may not always agree, but we work together to protect our children from violence, hate, and harassment. Now a MAGA mega-donor is bankrolling two poorly written initiatives to remove common sense protections.
Initiative IL26-638 is a Washington state ballot measure that seeks to “Defend Equity in Interscholastic Sports”
Existing Washington state law and school district policies require students to undergo a routine physical examination prior to participation in interscholastic sports, which includes documentation of the student's sex. IL26-638 changes the law to require medical sex certification as part of sports physicals for all girls, and bans parents from using birth certificates instead.
IL26-638 could force tens of thousands of Washington girls each year to undergo invasive, embarrassing, and potentially harmful genital exams just to play sports. Right now, all students stay fully clothed during sports physical, but this could change for girls.
IL26-638 targets girls with invasive genital exams to medically certify their gender. Boys are completely exempt from this requirement – only girls will be subjected to medical sex certification - putting another barrier between girls and sports.
Girls will be discouraged from playing sports under IL26-638 because they will be subjected to invasive, embarrassing genital exams. Girls may miss out on the many benefits of playing sports, as well as learning about teamwork and cooperation.
— Okanogan County Democratic Central Committee