Washington Rejects Proposals to Restrict Trans Athletes in Girls’ Sports

Washington state has decided to hit the pause button on controversial sports rules. Two proposals meant to restrict transgender athletes from joining girls’ and women’s sports teams failed to gather enough votes on Monday, falling just shy of the 60% threshold needed to pass. The proposal to limit girls’ sports participation to those born female received 58.5% approval—close, but no cigar. Another idea, which would have created an 'open' division for all students outside the traditional boys and girls categories, saw even less support, earning only 24.5% of the vote.

Current Washington law protects transgender individuals from discrimination under the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). Even if these proposals had made it through, there would have been serious legal hurdles ahead. The Lynden school board was the driving force behind the idea, arguing that fairness for girl athletes required competition only among those born female. Superintendent David VanderYacht said their board was trying to address concerns while still respecting all students' dignity. It’s not every day you see school boards trying to referee the culture wars.

Meanwhile, the national debate continues to swirl. The Trump administration recently froze federal funding for Maine over disagreements about transgender athlete participation, but a federal judge stepped in, ruling that funds couldn't be withheld without proper legal process. Maine officials fought back, arguing the funding freeze threatened essential programs—everything from school lunches to services for disabled adults. The judge agreed, making it clear that political battles shouldn’t leave kids hungry.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine is pushing to resolve the standoff, saying she’ll keep fighting for her state’s funding but stands firm against transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The issue has also drawn the attention of the Department of Education, which launched its own investigation into Maine’s policies.

So, while Washington’s proposals didn’t make the cut this round, the broader battle over sports, gender identity, and fairness is far from settled. Guess we’ll need more than a referee’s whistle to sort this one out.