WASHINGTON — In Washington, school districts must allow transgender athletes to participate in the sport that best fits their gender identity, according to WIAA policy.
That means if a student identifies as a girl, she can compete with the girls.
Under the Biden administration, the WIAA said its current policy followed both state and federal law.
Confusion now looms as a new administration has taken over. In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports.
The WIAA is considering changes to its policies regarding transgender athletes but has not yet voted to do so.
One investigation is already underway in Tumwater, Washington. KOMO News reported that a civil rights complaint has been filed after a basketball player didn’t want to compete against a transgender player.
“I was put on the spot in front of a whole entire gym,” said Frances Staundt, Tumwater Highschool basketball player. “I looked over and I said ‘You’re a man,’ because that is my First Amendment right.”
By misgendering the other player, WIAA ruled Staundt violated its code of ethics, leading her to file a complaint to the Department of Education.
The Moses Lake School District has drafted a letter to Governor Bob Ferguson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal in which it says it is going to revise current policies.
The letter says the board will “Update our student handbook and athletic guidelines to prohibit individuals assigned male at birth from participating in girls’ sports teams, consistent with the executive order’s interpretation of Title IX.”
The board is set to vote on the letter at a meeting Thursday.
In May, East Valley High School’s Verónica Garcia became the first known transgender athlete to win a Washington State Championship. She won the 2A Girls 400 girls 400-meter run in Tacoma. Controversy quickly followed.
Garcia is a senior this year and told 4 News Now that East Valley High School is allowing her to continue competing with the girls.
When we reached out to the East Valley School District regarding how it is dealing with these changes in government policies, Superintendent Brian Talbott said via email, “We are not currently in a position to discuss this topic. That may change in the future, however, not at this time.”
Now that state law no longer coincides with the federal interpretation of Title IX rules, we reached out to the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
“We all know that Congress is going to have to enact a law to change our state’s framework and they have failed to do that,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “Our guidance to districts is pretty simple. It’s on our website. We’ve sent them communication. They need to follow state law.”
COPYRIGHT 2025 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
