Clark County voters are showing strong backing for Initiative 638, with early returns reporting a 60.12% “yes” vote on November 4. The statewide measure, now also leading, seeks to preserve fairness in girls’ sports by prohibiting biological males from competing in athletic events designated for female students.
Why the Initiative Matters to Local Families
Supporters argue that allowing biological males to compete undermines the level playing field that Title IX was designed to protect. “This is about fairness and safety, about biology,” said State Senator John Braun, a father of three daughters who participated in high‑school athletics. Braun emphasized that the measure does not ban anyone from participating in K‑12 sports; it simply ensures that competitions intended for female athletes remain exclusive to biological females.
Local Voices Highlight Concerns
Two female athletes, Analeigh and Frances, shared their personal experiences, noting that boys competing on girls’ teams have taken spots and scholarship opportunities away from girls. “Biological men are competing in girls’ sports in Washington state, and it’s destroying fairness for the 110,000 girls playing sports in our middle and high schools,” they said.
High‑school cross‑country results illustrate the issue. In September, a biological male runner who had previously run on the boys’ JV and varsity teams placed first in the girls’ 5,000‑meter race at a district meet, pushing female athletes down the rankings. Charlie Garrett, a varsity runner, expressed frustration: “It troubles me that spots are being taken away from me at bigger meets like districts, regionals and state. Athlete’s spots are being taken away and scholarships are being taken away.”
Opposition and Political Context
Not everyone agrees. Vancouver City Councilors Diana Perez and Kim Harless voted to oppose Initiative 638 on October 5, aligning with State Rep. Sarah Mittelman, who supports the measure. U.S. Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez called the issue “very, very rare” but also agreed that it is not fair for boys to compete in girls’ sports, despite having voted against the federal Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 (H.R. 734).
Critics, including an unnamed advocacy group, claim that the measure could lead to invasive examinations. The initiative explicitly states that no invasive exams are required and that no student is banned from participating in K‑12 athletics, only that competitions intended for female students remain exclusive.
What’s Next?
With early returns favorable, the initiative is poised to appear on the November 5 ballot across Washington. If passed, it would become state law, requiring schools to enforce policies that define participants in female‑only sports as “biologically male” or “biologically female” and to prohibit cross‑gender competition in those events.
Local parents, coaches, and athletes are encouraged to stay informed as final results come in. The outcome will shape the future of girls’ athletics in Clark County and throughout the state, reinforcing the community’s commitment to fairness, safety, and the constitutional right of families to raise their children in an environment that respects biological differences.
Original reporting: Clark County Today (Vancouver WA) — read the source article.
