The Columbian: Vote no on Initiative 638
Washington’s history of inclusion for all students in the state’s public schools is under threat from Initiative 638, which will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. The Columbian’s Editorial Board recommends a no vote on this measure that we see as mean-spirited and promoting an ugly double-standard, as it applies only to girls and not boys.
As always, this is merely a recommendation, designed to provide information and generate discussion. The Columbian trusts that voters will examine the issue before casting an informed vote.
Supported by the conservative political action group Let’s Go Washington, I-638 would ban transgender girls from participating in girls sports in Washington’s public schools, as well as private schools that participate in the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association or similar nonprofit organizations.
The “for” statement in the Voters’ Pamphlet reads, “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.”
One of the most contentious points of I-638 is that to ensure only biological females are competing in girls sports, it would require a medical exam to verify biological sex. Proponents say such exams would be “noninvasive.” Critics disagree.
Initiative foes write in the Voters’ Pamphlet: “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.”
This should give everyone pause. We’ll note again that only girls would be subjected to this rule; it would not apply to boys.
Another point to consider: The WIAA reportedly estimates there are just five to 10 known transgender students playing on school sports teams, out of more than 200,000 participating.
We agree there are some legitimate concerns about fairness if girls are competing against athletes who were born male. Especially as these athletes grow into their teen years, biological males are typically bigger and stronger than their biologically female counterparts.
But what is the alternative? Forcing transgender girls to turn out for the boys’ team, where they might feel uncomfortable, or worse?
The argument that transgender girls are simply boys who fear competing against other boys is both offensive and untrue. Transitioning is difficult and complex emotionally and physically and is not taken lightly. To suggest otherwise shows intolerance and ignorance that is not in keeping with the WIAA’s policy of inclusion and “maximizing participation in extracurricular activities.”
Culture wars have gained steam locally and nationally in recent years. From Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s denial of promotions to women and men of color, despite their record of service, to book bans to our FVRLibraries’ adoption of a strategic plan that eliminated the term “equitable access,” efforts to drive out “the other” in our society have fueled fear and unrest. But when vulnerable children become the cannon fodder in such battles, we as Washingtonians should be willing to say “no.”
We understand that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that transgender student-athlete bans do not violate Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause, but we are not West Virginia or Idaho. We are Washington, where we’ve always held inclusion and personal freedom in high regard.
While legitimate concerns exist when girls compete against biological males, we believe excluding such young people from athletics would do considerably more harm. Initiative 638 does not align with Washington’s values and should be defeated.
Source: https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/oct/10/in-our-view-vote-no-on-initiative-638/