The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) stated that it cannot implement a policy to exclude biological males from girls' sports because such a rule would violate current Washington state law. This position places the burden for changing participation rules on the state legislature or voters, rather than on the school sports governing body itself.
The statement, provided to OutKick, follows a protest at a Camas High School cross-country race where approximately a dozen female runners walked off the course. They refused to compete alongside a male teammate who had switched from the boys' team to the girls' team mid-season. The WIAA explained that while its members have proposed amendments to alter gender-identity participation policies in the past two years, none met the 60% threshold required to pass. The association emphasized that even if such amendments had passed, the WIAA is legally barred from adopting rules that conflict with state statutes.
Washington voters will decide the issue in November. Initiative 638, scheduled for the ballot on Nov. 3, would prohibit biological male students from competing in certain female-only school sports. The measure requires verification of biological sex by a healthcare provider. Democratic Gov. Bob Ferguson has opposed the initiative, arguing it would force students into invasive sex verification exams rather than creating opportunities for girls. Ferguson’s statement, published by the opposition campaign No Hate in WA State on Sept. 29, asserted that the measure would not benefit girls' sports participation.
The initiative reached the ballot after state lawmakers took no action on it during the 2026 session. In January, Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen and House Speaker Laurie Jinkins indicated they did not plan to hold hearings on the sports initiative or a separate parental-rights measure. Pedersen told the Washington State Standard that he was certain neither initiative would pass in the legislature, leaving the decision to voters.
The WIAA noted that its current gender-identity participation policy has been in place since the 2007-08 school year to align with state law, which permits student-athletes to compete consistent with their gender identity. The association described itself as membership-driven, with rules created by its members and detailed in the WIAA Handbook. The handbook outlines eligibility timelines and practice requirements but does not specify a timeline for switching teams. The WIAA office manages state tournaments but leaves day-to-day league and district operations to local entities.
Following U.S. Supreme Court rulings in June that upheld other states' laws restricting transgender athletes' participation, Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) clarified that these decisions did not change Washington law. Superintendent Chris Reykdal stated that he would continue enforcing state law allowing students to compete based on gender identity. Reykdal said in a June 30 statement that the court decision reinforced Washington's ability to implement laws aligned with its values.
Backers of Initiative 638, led by Let's Go Washington, argue the measure preserves fair competition for girls while allowing transgender students to compete in categories corresponding to their sex. They contend that verification can occur through existing sports-physical processes and does not mandate genital examinations. Opponents argue the measure would exclude transgender girls and impose new medical and privacy burdens on female athletes.