Washington Parents Rally for Girls' Sports Ahead of Ballot Measure

Dozens of parents and supporters gathered outside a Camas High School girls cross country district meet to protest the participation of a transgender runner and rally support for Initiative 638, a ballot measure that would require K-12 athletes to compete according to their sex at birth. The demonstration featured more than 100 adults, many wearing apparel advocating for the separation of males and females in sports.

Steve Lynch, a former cross country and track coach with 24 years of experience, was present with a sign offering information about the differences between boys and girls sports. He described facing verbal harassment from a passerby but remained unfazed.

At the heart of the rally was Initiative 638, which is set to appear on the Washington state ballot on November 3. Supporters believe the measure is crucial for maintaining fairness in girls' athletics. Sarah Burns, mother of a Camas runner who previously walked off the starting line in protest, expressed her motivation for attending. "I was just a mom going to watch her daughter, and then we found out what was happening, and I couldn't not say something," Burns stated. "These are teenage girls that should be able to be teenage girls and run and compete in their sport and not have their achievements taken from them."

Sarah Babb, whose daughter also walked off the start line, shared her feelings of isolation as a parent concerned about the issue. "As a mom who comes to these races all season long, it feels very alone as I stand there and go, 'This is awful,'" Babb said. "So it was great to see such support last week, and this is wild this week. It's hard to be the quiet majority, to feel like we're being bullied into silence."

The article notes that many parents have been reluctant to speak out publicly due to fear of repercussions, including job loss. Some opponents of the movement have reportedly been aggressive, with incidents of verbal abuse and harassment directed at those advocating for separate sports categories for biological males and females.

Amy Sousa, a women's sports advocate, criticized adults who she believes are not doing enough to support the girls speaking out. "I don't have a lot of patience for adults who are willing to let the girls take the hits," Sousa said. "If these girls are willing to stand up to their peers, I think adults can stand up to theirs. And if they can't do it in public, at least they can do it at the ballot."

While supporters of Initiative 638 advocate for biological sex as the basis for athletic competition, some attendees expressed differing views. One woman, who declined to give her last name, argued that the measure would necessitate invasive exams and that fairness should consider factors beyond just gender identity, such as physical size. She stated, "Fairness is reasonable, and I do think there should be rules. Even in the Olympics, each sport can set up certain rules. I don't want to wrestle with somebody who's got 40 pounds on me, whether they're male or female, but that's about size, not just about what gender you're born."

Kate Westfall, a senior at Camas High and a top runner, had previously quit the team earlier in the month, citing fairness concerns about competing against a biological male. Her parents, Joe and Jennie Westfall, attended the rally to support their daughter's decision and raise awareness about the issue. "She made the brave decision to forgo the rest of her senior season and give up opportunities in order to bring awareness to the impact the current state policy is having on females who are being forced to compete in this unfair environment," Jennie Westfall said. "As her parents, we are proud of her courage and are honored to stand with her."

The rally and meet took place amidst ongoing debate in Washington state and nationally regarding the inclusion of transgender athletes in sports categories aligning with their gender identity.