Washington might limit how transgender kids can take part in sports, joining other states that have already done this.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, which oversees school sports, confirmed two changes to its guidelines on Monday.
One suggestion is to prevent trans kids from joining girls’ sports teams. The other option would be to set up a different co-ed division for trans students to join.
The current WIAA policy lets transgender kids join sports teams that match their gender identity. This program started in 2007 and was the first of its kind in the country.
As of Monday, over half of states have laws or agency regulations that limit trans students’ involvement in sports, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a think tank that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights..
David VanderYacht, the superintendent of the Lynden School District, represented one of more than a dozen districts backing this attempt.
VanderYacht said that the aim of these ideas is to ensure fair competition and maintain the value of girls’ sports, while also making sure that sports are open and available to everyone.
“We want all our student athletes to enjoy being part of a community with other students,” he said. “Sports and activities are a great way to make that happen.”
The ideas are based on how Alaska does things, according to VanderYacht. In 2023, the state’s education board decided to create a division just for kids who were assigned female at birth.
VanderYacht said that Washington’s current approach is unfair to both girls and transgender students. He remembered seeing a transgender girl win a state track title, but her classmates “did not accept her.”
“My heart was broken,” VanderYacht said. “They stood silently while they clapped for their other friends. We need to create a safe space for our transgender student athletes.
VanderYacht did not say when that event happened. He might have been talking about the reaction Verónica Garcia got last year when she became the first transgender high school track winner in Washington. The crowd became quiet when she stepped up to the stage.
Critics say the plans are unfair and break state laws.
Last year, La Rond Baker, the legal director for the ACLU of Washington, asked WIAA members to follow the state’s current policy and said they would be “keeping a close eye on the situation.”
Baker said that the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association has managed its current policy well for more than ten years. “The policy follows Washington’s laws against discrimination and allows transgender students to take part in sports that match their gender identity.”
Some school officials at the WIAA Representative Assembly attempted to stop or delay the amendments on Monday, but they were not able to do so.
The assembly will decide on the plans in April. If at least 60% of people vote in favor, they will start in August.
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