On Wednesday, Oct. 21, a crowd gathered at 2600 NW Lake Road in Camas, Washington, for the “Camas Courage” rally. The event was organized by community activist Amy Sousa, who said adults need to take the lead in defending the rights of girls who walked out of a cross‑country meet on Oct. 13 rather than forcing the students to become activists themselves.
Why the rally matters
About a dozen Camas High School girls left the race after learning a transgender athlete, who had been competing in the boys’ division, would run with them. The walk‑off sparked a heated debate over the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association’s gender‑identity participation policy, which the association says follows state law.
Sousa, who previously helped organize rallies for former WNBA star Sophie Cunningham, told OutKick, “You should not have to become student‑activists. Adults are now taking the reins and adults are standing up.” She added that the rally aims to show the runners that they have adult backing while pressing for changes to eligibility rules.
Political backdrop
The rally also serves as a platform for Initiative 638, a statewide ballot measure slated for the Nov. 3 election. If passed, the initiative would prohibit biologically male students from competing in certain female‑only school sports and would require health‑care providers to verify an athlete’s biological sex.
Supporters argue the measure protects fair competition for girls, while opponents warn it could exclude transgender girls and impose new medical‑privacy burdens. State Sen. John Braun, a Republican, is expected to attend, alongside representatives from Women’s Declaration International USA and the Women’s Liberation Front, as well as parents and students.
Local officials and the law
Washington’s top high‑school sports authority maintains that its policy complies with state law and that it cannot adopt restrictions that would conflict with that law. Sousa challenged the officials, saying, “It’s not the fault of this boy that this has been allowed to happen. We need to do better for our daughters.” She emphasized that the rally is scheduled before the upcoming meet to minimize disruption to the athletes’ competition schedule.
While the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association says it must follow existing statutes, the growing community pressure reflects a broader national conversation about how schools should handle transgender participation in sports. Many parents in Camas and surrounding areas see the rally as a chance to voice concerns about protecting their daughters’ opportunities in athletics.
Looking ahead
Initiative 638 will appear on the November ballot, giving Washington voters a direct say in how school sports eligibility is defined. The outcome could set a precedent for other states grappling with similar issues.
For now, the Camas community remains engaged. Sousa said she is open to dialogue with those who disagree, noting that the rally is intended to foster respectful conversation rather than deepen division. “We are here to stand up for what is right, even when it is uncomfortable,” she said.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
