Washington state bans transgender athletes from women's competitions in referendum

Voters in Washington State (northwest United States) approved by referendum a law banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports competitions, a surprise in this region considered a bastion of the American left. The opposition to the text recognized its defeat without waiting for the final results: on 80% of the ballots counted, approximately 57% of voters supported this measure, compared to 43% against.

The law prohibits transgender athletes in this state from “competing with and against female students.” In schools, it will also require students wishing to participate “in sporting activities reserved for female students” to provide documentation attesting to their biological sex from a health professional.

Washington, fourth state to approve such measures

When he returned to power, Donald Trump promised to put an end to the “transgender delusion”. His Republican Party has particularly focused on the issue of sport, where the participation of transgender athletes is denounced as unfair. Since then, more than half of American states have passed laws to exclude transgender athletes from women's competitions. A ban validated by the Supreme Court in June.

The adoption of this referendum in the state of Washington, historically Democratic, despite the Republican defeat during the mid-term elections, shows that this subject resonates well beyond the conservative camp. Three other states approved similar measures in elections this week: Arizona (southwest), Nebraska (central) and Colorado (west).

“Girls will compete without boys in their sports!” rejoiced the Let's Go Washington political action committee, which initiated the referendum. Several local doctors opposed the measure, saying it "is not based on clinical recommendations and would cause undue stress and harm to young girls."

Being able to play sports “without controversy”

Under the text, all adolescent girls who want to play sports will have to undergo an examination of their reproductive organs, or genetic and hormonal tests. Associations defending the LGBT community denounce an extreme law, targeting a very small group of people, often very young and already victims of discrimination and harassment.

“The fight is not over,” said No Hate WA State campaign manager Libby Watson, renewing her support for young transgender sportswomen. “We are at your side and we will continue to fight so that one day you can play sport without controversy,” she insisted.

More than half of transgender youth have had suicidal thoughts in their lifetime and 31% have attempted suicide at least once, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In Washington State, the institution responsible for supervising school sports indicated this year that it was aware of only 10 transgender middle and high school students among the 200,000 students competing in school sports competitions in the region.