The ACLU of Washington announced a lawsuit to stop the state's newly approved restrictions on transgender athletes in girls' school sports, moving the fight from the ballot box to the courts a week after voters backed Initiative 638.
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voters → announce → Initiative
The organization said it is acting on behalf of a coalition of Washington parents and educators.
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it → say → parents
Its announcement named Legal Voice, TransFamilies and the Washington Education Association as groups involved in the challenge.
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announcement → name → challenge
"We're filing a lawsuit on behalf of a coalition of Washington parents and educators to stop the implementation of Initiative 638, a discriminatory law that bans transgender girls from participating in girls’ school sports," the ACLU of Washington said in a statement.
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ACLU → file → statement
The lawsuit was filed Monday in King County Superior Court, according to the Washington State Standard.
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lawsuit → file → Standard
Plaintiffs include TransFamilies, the Washington Education Association and parents of transgender and nontransgender students who participate in girls' sports.
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who → include → sports
Pacifica Law Group is representing them alongside the ACLU and Legal Voice.
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Group → represent → ACLU
The challenge argues the initiative violates state constitutional privacy protections and antidiscrimination law, the outlet reported.
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outlet → argue → protections
Washington voters approved the measure in the Nov. 3 election.
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voters → approve → election
Unofficial returns compiled by Ballotpedia showed approximately 56% support as of Monday night.
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returns → compile → night
The measure would bar students it defines as biologically male from competing with or against female students in designated girls' interscholastic athletic competitions.
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it → bar → competitions
Students seeking to participate in those competitions would have to submit a statement from a health care provider verifying their biological sex based on reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or naturally produced testosterone levels.
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Students → seek → anatomy
Supporters, led by Brian Heywood's conservative political organization Let's Go Washington, argue the restrictions protect fairness and athletic opportunities for girls.
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restrictions → lead → girls
"To every female athlete who wondered whether her voice mattered: tonight, Washington heard you," Heywood said in an election statement reported by the Washington State Standard.
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Heywood → wonder → Standard
The ACLU said the initiative would reverse nearly two decades of allowing transgender students to participate on teams consistent with their gender identity.
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students → say → identity
"Discrimination has no place in our state or in our schools.
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Discrimination → have → schools
For nearly two decades, Washington law has allowed transgender students to participate in sports and on teams consistent with their gender identity — a successful approach that has been a model for other states," the organization said.
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organization → allow → states
"Initiative 638 seeks to deny transgender girls equal opportunities simply because of who they are.
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they → seek → opportunities
It is discrimination, and it threatens all girls who play sports at school.
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who → threaten → school
The medical verification requirement has become a central point of contention.
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requirement → become → contention
Opponents say it could subject girls to intrusive examinations and discourage participation.
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it → say → participation
Supporters dispute that additional examinations would be necessary, arguing existing medical records and routine sports physicals can establish eligibility.
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records → dispute → eligibility
Heywood told KNKX and KUOW that doctors should consult patient records to verify biological sex, although that specific procedure is not spelled out in the initiative.
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procedure → tell → initiative
The legal fight comes as schools prepare for the measure's scheduled Dec. 3 effective date.
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schools → come → date
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association has said its executive board can revise its handbook to comply with changes in state law.
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board → say → law
Its statement indicated state championship events would proceed under current law until that law changes, according to reporting published by The Spokesman-Review.
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law → indicate → Review
Separately, the Seattle School Board voted Monday to authorize Superintendent Ben Shuldiner and district legal counsel to pursue legal action over the initiative.
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Shuldiner → vote → initiative
Board members raised concerns about student privacy and equal protection, arguing courts should resolve potential conflicts between the initiative and other legal obligations, according to Seattle's Child.
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courts → raise → Child
The ACLU-backed lawsuit seeks to prevent the restrictions from taking effect Dec. 3, according to the Washington State Standard.
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lawsuit → back → Standard
The Aporia
