Washington might be considering joining the increasing number of states that are imposing restrictions on the participation of transgender youth in sports.
On Monday, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which oversees school sports, officially approved two amendments to its handbook.
One suggestion seeks to ban transgender students from competing in girls sports, while another proposes the establishment of a separate co-ed division specifically for transgender students to participate in.
Current WIAA policy allows trans students to participate in sports programs consistent with their gender identity. Established in 2007, the policy was the first of its kind in the country.
According to the Movement Advancement Project, a think tank that fights for LGBTQ+ rights, more than half of states already have legislation or agency regulations that restrict trans students’ participation in sports.
David VanderYacht, superintendent of the Lynden School District, represented one of more than a dozen districts that support this initiative.
The purpose of these recommendations, according to VanderYacht, is to retain fair competition and the “integrity” of girls’ sports while also making athletics inclusive and accessible to all.
“We want all our student athletes to benefit from being in community with other students,” he said, “and sports and activities is an exceptional vehicle for that to happen.”
VanderYacht clarified that the proposals draw inspiration from Alaska’s approach. The state board of education voted in 2023 to establish a division for students assigned as female at birth.
VanderYacht stated that Washington’s present approach is unjust to both girls and transgender pupils. He recalls seeing a transsexual teenager win a state track championship, but her peers “did not accept her.
“My heart was broken,” VanderYacht said. “They stood silently while they clapped for their other peers. We’re in an environment that we need to protect our transgender student athletes.”
VanderYacht didn’t specify when the incident occurred. However, he could have been referring to the ovation Verónica Garcia experienced last year when she became Washington’s first transgender high school track winner. The audience fell silent as she took the podium.
Opponents contend that the ideas are discriminatory and violate state laws.
La Rond Baker, legal director for the ACLU of Washington, issued a statement late last year urging WIAA members to preserve the state’s current policy and stating that the organization will be “closely monitoring the situation.”
“The Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association has successfully administered its existing policy for over a decade,” Baker wrote. “The policy is consistent with Washington’s anti-discrimination laws and policies and respects the right of transgender students to participate in athletics consistent with their gender identity.”
Despite their best efforts, several school administrators on the WIAA Representative Assembly were unable to prevent the amendments from being discussed or delayed during the meeting on Monday.
The proposals will be voted on by the assembly in April. If they receive at least 60% of the vote, they will take effect in August.