OLYMPIA, Wash – Public schools in Washington will continue to allow kids to compete in sports in line with their preferred gender, following state law.
The WIAA board rejected two amendments that addressed transgender athletes in sports, but it wouldn’t have mattered anyway; the votes were advisory votes only.
One measure would limit participation in girls’ sports to biological females. 31 voted in support, 22 voted no. Amendments require 60 percent to pass, which means this vote fell one short.
Another measure would create an open division, in addition to boys and girls divisions, meaning transgender athletes could participate in the open category.
13 were in support of that, 40 were opposed.
Both measures included language that said “If passed, amendment would not have been implemented under current State Law.”
The WIAA consistently points to its Gender Diverse Youth Sport Inclusivity Toolkit, which explains how the organization believes its following state law in regards to transgender athletes participating in sports.
It reads in part, “Washington State laws protect transgender students from discrimination in school, which includes names and pronouns, dress codes, student participation in sports and physical education, harassment, and students’ use of restrooms and locker rooms.”
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