Disclosure: Writer is a member of RenewED, a local educational group that has advocated for protecting girls’ sports.
Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), a nonprofit rule governing body for middle and high school sports in Washington State, announced on Tuesday that it will consider two proposals next year that would disallow biological boys from competing on girls’ sport teams.
WIAA’s current policy allows participation based on a student’s preferred gender identity. No other proof is needed.
There was considerable backlash this past spring after a transgender student from Spokane Valley won the state 2A girls 400-meter run in Tacoma. There was also a backlash after a transgender LBHS student won the 1600-meter girls’ race at the Junior Olympics in Cashmere. Both stories received national attention, including from Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who has been outspoken about this issue after competing and forced to share a locker room with a biological male.
The first proposal is modeled after one in Alaska. It would restrict girls’ sport teams to students assigned female at birth and would replace the boys’ division with an open division for all other student athletes.
The second proposal would create a girls’ division, boys’ division and an open division “that maintains a truly equitable playing field, allowing safe, fair, inclusive and non-discriminatory opportunities for all students wishing to participate in athletics and activities.”
The first proposal was submitted by the following school districts: Lynden, Blaine, Brewster, Cashmere, Colville, Grand Coulee Dam, Lake Chelan, Mansfield, Mead, Okanogan, Omak, Oroville, Tonasket and Lynden Christian School,
The second proposal was submitted by Eastmont School District, Cashmere School District, Colville School District, Lynden School District, Mead School District, Moses Lake School District, and Thorp School District.
Several local community members petitioned the Methow Valley School Board to adopt a resolution, but they declined to put the matter on their agenda.
In an email Nov. 1, Board Chair Dana Stromberger wrote, “As an elected public official, I swore an oath to uphold the laws governing our district…. The board, acting in keeping with its historical pattern, chose not to take political action. Our board norms state that once a decision is made, members will accept the decision. I consider this matter to be closed.”
In October, the Methow Valley School Board passed Policy 3205 which includes a provision that it will not discriminate on the basis of sex in athletic activities.
The submitters of the two proposals to WIAA acknowledge they could be challenged in court, but they believe the law is on their side.
Proponents of the first proposal contend, “Transgender participation policies are currently being developed across all competition levels of organizations sponsoring sex-segregated athletics.”
Proponents of the second proposal assert:
“The legislature finds that the mission of the WIAA is to assist member schools in operating student programs that foster achievement, respect, equity, enthusiasm, and excellence in a safe and organized environment per RCW 28A.600.200 Finding-Intent-2012 c 155. Further, the legislature intends to ensure that this mission is successfully carried out so that arbitrary sanctions that result in students unfairly being denied participation, or cause students’ achievement to be diminished do not occur.
Science and medical experts have shown that Assigned Sex is a key determinant of athletic performance, with males outperforming females in sports that are primarily determined by neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory function, and anthropometrics including body and limb size. Many sports organizations, including the International Swimming Federation (FINA), World Athletics, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) have all changed their policies in response to the substantial sex difference in sports performance and the need to prevent unfair competition.”
RCW assigns management of interschool athletic activities to local school boards but allows them to delegate these tasks to a nonprofit and compensate them. The WIAA serves this role for roughly 800 public and private high schools and middle/junior high schools in Washington. WIAA must abide by the laws of Washington State but can set their own rules for athletic participation.
The WIAA Representative Assembly, made up of 53 school administrators from each of the six WIAA districts, will discuss the wording of the proposals during a virtual meeting on January 27. Voting on these and 14 other proposals will take place April 9-18, 2025.
This is an outstanding article that brings us all up to date on the issue of biological males competing in girls sports. Well done!
Thank you, Scott. Much appreciated.
This article is a help in understanding the process needed to make athletics in schools safe and equitable for all involved. Thank you.
Thank you, Carolyn. Much appreciated.