SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington voters will decide this November on two initiatives affecting families and schools after state lawmakers chose not to act on the measures during the past legislative session.
Conservative political group Let’s Go Washington launched both initiatives last year, collecting more than 400,000 signatures for each.
The first initiative would ban transgender students from competing with or against biologically female athletes. It would also require girls who want to play sports to verify their biological sex.
The second initiative would fully reinstate the Parents’ Bill of Rights, a previously passed Washington law that gives parents of public school students access to their child’s academic, medical and health records.
“It’s really a sign that the legislature has gone so far beyond what the norms of everyday, average people is, that someone has to stand up and fight,” said Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington.
The group says the measures give public school parents more rights and protect girls’ sports. Conservative leaders say the support they saw while gathering signatures makes them feel confident about the November election.
However, critics warn these initiatives will put students in danger. The Washington Education Association is among several groups that have spoken against both measures, calling them anti-school.
The union says the parental rights measure would take away privacy protections for students and families. It also argues that the measure regarding athletes would undo Washington’s successful sports inclusion policies.
Both initiatives already have strong campaigns forming on both sides, even though the November election is still months away. The outcome could determine significant policy changes for Washington’s public schools and student athletes.
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