Your essential vote for girls in Washington state

Yes, the midterms are consuming our media, but don't let your local issues pass you by. Here in Washington State, there's a strong chance that we'll pass the country's most restrictive ban on Trans girls (K-12) in sports. 

As it turns out, folks have conflicting feelings about whether or not Trans girls should be allowed to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity. The polls show that while voters may not say out loud that they would rather not have Trans girls play sports with the gender they identify with, they will vote privately to ban the practice. Right now, there are only about 10 girls in that situation in Washington State. 

The majority of the Poplin community are women, a number of whom are Trans and I'm grateful for each of you who are here. I'm especially grateful for the opportunity to work with Trans clients to help each one become her full self and support Trans Youth on the same path through my many years volunteering with YouthCare. 

This bill is not just about Trans girls. It's about ALL girls.

It wasn't until I heard a story about this issue in the car that I realized how misleading this bill is- and how easily folks could vote for it without understanding what they are actually voting for.

Clearly, one goal of the legislation is to block Trans girls from participating. But how do they determine who is Trans? They require ALL GIRLS K-8 to PROVE THAT THEY ARE FEMALE. According to NPR, "the measure would require students who want to join a girls’ sports team to undergo sex verification, either through a genital exam, a chromosome test, or a hormone test." 

This would not be required of boys. 

Title IX was passed in 1972, prohibiting sex based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funding. This had a profound impact on girls sports- taking participation in school aged sports from 300,000 prior to the 1972 to over 3 million. Imagine the impact on girls participation in sports when they must submit to a testosterone test, a DNA test or a genital exam to participate. Those are actually the three test options. Truly. It sounds like a conspiracy theory, but it isn't. And reading the top level info on the ballot does not specify those details. You must dig a little deeper.

I encourage you to not only research on your own, but share this information with friends, family, co-workers so that the maximum number of voters will have the full picture before voting. ALL girls deserve better from us.