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Two initiatives on November’s ballot could restrict Trans people’s participation in K-12 sports and out Queer kids in public schools to their parents.
The initiatives were sponsored by the political action committee Let’s Go Washington, which is funded by Redmond hedge-fund manager Brian Heywood, who has spent millions to promote them.
I-001
Initiative 001 concerns parental rights. If passed, it would require schools to tell parents about medical services their child receives outside of emergencies, and provide notification of medications or treatments given to students and when a medical follow-up is made by the school outside of school hours.
The initiative will also let parents opt students out of surveys about, among other things, political party affiliation, mental health, and sex.
Critics argue that the initiative would not only forcibly out students but also harm those suffering abuse at the hands of parents.
“What it’s really about is outing young LGBTQ kids and taking away the rights of young people to make their own decisions about their mental health care and reproductive health care,” said Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pederson, D-Seattle, in a campaign video.
Supporters of the bill argue that the initiative puts the power back into parents’ hands, arguing that the opposition does not care about parents.
The initiative is endorsed by conservative groups, including Moms for Liberty Washington, the anti-Trans group Gays Against Groomers, and the anti-Trans clothing company founder Jennifer Sey.
It is opposed by the Washington State Nurses Association, the Washington Education Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington.
The issue of parental rights is nothing new. Another initiative in 2023 proposed by the same PAC would have established a “parental bill of rights” allowing parents to inspect classroom materials, including textbooks. It would have also allowed parents to view their child’s medical records within 10 days of a request.
The state legislature took a liking to the idea but dropped the narrow timeline, opting for a 45-day window and removing access to certain medical records. It was passed into law in 2025.
I-001 hopes to repeal the law passed by the legislature.
I-638
Initiative 638 would ban Transgender girls from playing in girls’ K-12 sports. In order for girls to play in sports, a letter from their pediatrician must be provided, proving they are not Transgender. The letter would have to include a genital exam, genetic testing, or checking testosterone levels.
Proponents of the initiative argue that it prevents “biological males” from playing in sports and protects girls’ sports as a whole.
“To me [it] is a litmus test of whether you have good, plain common sense or you don’t,” said conservative podcaster Brandi Kruse, whose advocacy for the initiative was cited by the legislature when it withheld press credentials for her.
Opponents argue that the initiative would subject students to unnecessary exams by their doctor and takes power away from parents and schools in order to discriminate against a marginalized group of students.
Studies show that Transgender women do not have any advantage in sports after taking gender-affirming medications.
The initiatives will appear on ballots as Initiative Measure No. IL26-001 and Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, respectively. Election day is Nov. 3, and polls close in Washington at 8 p.m.
