Ballot Measures in Colorado, Washington Could Ban Transgender Girls From Sports

Voters in Colorado and Washington, both reliably Democratic states, will consider ballot measures that could ban transgender girls from participating in female sports competitions. These initiatives come after state lawmakers in both jurisdictions rejected proposals to enact such bans.

The efforts represent the first time the issue of transgender participation in sports has gone directly to voters, according to the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ rights. Activists hope these measures will serve as a model for similar efforts in other states where legislative bans have been blocked.

Nationwide, 27 states have already enacted laws restricting transgender athletes in sports, predominantly in states with Republican leadership. The measures in Colorado and Washington tap into a growing concern about fairness and the preservation of women's sports categories, an issue that has also been a focus for some national political figures.

Recent polling indicates a general public sentiment favoring such bans. A June Quinnipiac University poll found that approximately 70% of registered voters believe transgender women and girls should not be allowed to compete on female sports teams, with about a quarter holding the opposite view. Democratic voters are divided on the issue, with roughly half supporting and half opposing the participation of transgender women and girls in women's sports.

Supporters of the bans argue they are necessary to protect the integrity of women's sports and ensure fair competition. Ahnaleigh Wilson, a high school junior, shared her personal experience of finishing second in a race to a transgender athlete, stating, "I knew it wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair." She emphasized the importance of Title IX and maintaining separate, fair spaces for female athletes.

Opponents, however, argue that excluding transgender girls is discriminatory. Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, stated, "I don’t understand how you can protect kids and discriminate against kids at the same time." They also point out that the number of transgender girls participating in school sports is very small.

In Washington, the ballot measure proposed by Let's Go Washington specifies that a healthcare provider would need to verify a student's "biological sex, relying only on one or more of the following: The student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels." Spokesperson Hallie Herzberg described this as a simple verification process. However, opponents like Dr. Libby Loft argue that this could necessitate invasive physical examinations or costly medical tests, potentially discouraging girls, transgender or not, from participating in sports.

Concerns about the invasiveness of such verification requirements have resonated with some voters. Rosemary Kacorozki, a voter from Renton, Washington, stated her opposition due to the potential for "medical exams of girls’ genitalia."

Financial backing for the initiatives varies. In Washington, Let's Go Washington has raised over $7.8 million to support its ballot measures, which also include proposals on parental access to school records and the repeal of a state tax on high earners. In Colorado, groups opposing the transgender sports measure have raised nearly $4 million, significantly outraising proponents.