On Saturday, a group of women athletes gathered in Vancouver, Washington, to share personal accounts of competing against biological males in high‑school and college sports. Their goal is to ensure Initiative 638, a statewide ballot measure, passes on Nov. 3. The initiative would prohibit biological males from participating in girls’ K‑12 sports, a policy already in place in 27 other states through legislative action.
Personal Testimonies Drive the Campaign
Frances Staudt, a senior at Tumwater High School, refused to play against a biological male in a basketball game and says she now faces daily harassment in school hallways. Alanna Smith, a former Georgia Southern sprinter, recalls feeling defeated before a race because a biological male was lined up against her in the blocks. Bailey Andersen, another high‑school basketball player, described a 6‑foot biological male out‑jumping her 6‑foot‑3 teammate on an opening tip, while a mustached boy flexed in the girls’ locker room.
Kendall Kotzmacher, a college softball player, lost a state championship to a team that started a biological male pitcher. She says friends have abandoned her since she began speaking out. Sadie Sullivan, a high‑school swimmer, said hearing male voices in the locker room “freaked her out.”
Why Initiative 638 Matters
If Washington voters approve the measure, the state would become the first to enact a sports‑separation policy by popular vote rather than by legislative decree. It would also be the first such policy in a state that President Trump lost in the 2024 election.
“If we can show that a state like Washington has enough common sense to stand up for the girls and women, then any other state can do so as well,” said Staudt. Former national‑team gymnast and founder of XX‑XY Athletics, Jennifer Sey, attended the rally and hopes the measure will spark a cascade of similar initiatives across the country.
Opposition and Rhetoric
Democratic officials have dismissed the debate as a non‑issue, but some have warned that the initiative could lead to “invasive genital inspections.” Tacoma City Councilmember Olgy Diaz and Seattle City Council members have used that language, though Sey notes that such inspections do not occur in any of the 27 states with similar policies.
Brandi Kruse, host of the Washington‑based podcast “Undivided,” called the inspection claim a red herring, pointing out that opponents have not presented evidence that girls would be forced to undergo medical examinations.
Local Impact and National Implications
The rally also featured a lone man holding a sign that read, “if you are not an antifascist, what are you?” He dismissed the debate as a non‑issue, saying, “If you got beat by a biological male, sorry.”
Since the rally, Kotzmacher reports receiving death threats and threats of visits to her home or college. She remains undeterred, stating, “Nothing’s going to stop me or the other girls.”
Recent incidents in Washington illustrate the controversy. Trans track athlete Veronica Garcia won the state 400‑meter title last year. This season, a biological male transferred to a girls’ cross‑country team at Camas High and is currently dominating. A family has even sought a Supreme Court injunction after their daughter alleged assault by a trans athlete.
What Voters Need to Know
Initiative 638 will appear on the Nov. 3 ballot. Voters who support separating biological males from females in school sports should vote “Yes.” Those opposed should vote “No.” The measure’s outcome could set a precedent for future ballot initiatives in other states, potentially reshaping the national conversation on gender‑separated athletics.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
