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ACLU files lawsuit to prevent voter-approved girls' sports initiative from becoming law
KOMO • • nation
Key Points:
- The ACLU-WA and Pacifica Law Group have filed a lawsuit to block Initiative 638, which voters approved by an 11-point margin, from going into effect on December 3, 2026.
- The initiative requires girls who want to participate in girls-only sports teams to verify their sex assigned at birth through physical exams, genetic testing, or hormone levels.
- Plaintiffs, including TransFamilies, the Washington Education Association, and parents, argue the law violates privacy rights and the state constitution's Equal Rights Amendment by imposing sex verification only on girls.
- The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) stated it will comply with the law once it takes effect but is currently reviewing implementation details due to ongoing litigation.
- The lawsuit was filed in King County amid broader debates about transgender participation in sports, with advocates emphasizing the need to protect girls' sports opportunities while seeking solutions for transgender athletes.
