OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington lawmakers will consider two initiatives after more than 800,000 people signed petitions supporting them.
The conservative political action committee “Let’s Go Washington” brought forward the initiatives. They deal with parental rights and transgender athletes.
The two initiatives aim to give more rights to parents of public school students and protect girls sports. But those opposed say it does the opposite and puts all students in danger.
Initiative IL26-001 would allow parents access to their children’s academic, medical and health records. Parents would be notified if their child receives medical treatment or medication. Parents could review course materials and opt their children out of classes.
Brian Heywood from Let’s Go Washington said, “I think parents need to know what’s going on with kids, regardless of trans or LGBTQ issues. I don’t like the schools keeping secrets.”
Those opposed to this initiative worry that sensitive information a student may not feel comfortable sharing with their parents but has shared with someone at the school will be made public.
Sami Alloy, executive director of Pro-Choice Washington, said, “Many youth who feel unsafe or rejected at home because of their gender or sexuality rely on school based health services, navigation to care, or simply a safe adult to confide in at school. But again, the confusing language around parental access to private medical records means that kids could potentially be cut off from accessing this essential health care.”
Initiative IL26-638 would require girls who want to play sports to verify their biological sex. A doctor would have to sign off after checking their body, genetic makeup or testosterone levels.
Katie Johnson, a school nurse, opposed the sports requirement.
“Every girl is going to be subjected to invasive, medically unnecessary and harmful exams of their genitalia to certify their sex so that they can join their friends on a sports team,” Johnson said.
Brian Heywood with Let’s Go Washington says that’s not the case.
“It’s only the physician of the child certifies or verifies the gender, and they can do that whatever means they want to do it,” Heywood said.
Let’s Go Washington will host a rally in Olympia. Democratic leaders have said they will reject both initiatives. If that happens, voters will decide in November.
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