David VanderYacht - Transgender Athletes Washington

For the past 17 years, transgender student-athletes in Washington state have been able to fully participate in sports in a way that is consistent with their gender identity. 

That could soon change. A group of 14 school districts has proposed an amendment to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association handbook that would restrict participation in girls sports at the middle school and high school levels to students who were assigned female at birth.

A second proposed amendment would create a new “open division,” essentially a new coed division that trans students could participate in. How that division would come together and be run is not discussed in the initial proposals.

 

The language of the proposals will be finalized by the WIAA’s Representative Assembly, a 53-member body composed of 35 high school and 18 middle school administrators from the WIAA’s six geographic districts, during a virtual meeting Jan. 27.

 

The number of delegates allocated to each district is based on the number of member schools within each district.

 

Delegates are selected by each district and must serve a minimum of one year. There is no term limit. A list of current delegates is not publicly available, according to the WIAA, which serves approximately 269 school districts across the state.

 

The assembly will then vote on the amendments from April 9-18. An amendment needs 60% approval, or 32 yes votes, to pass. 

Lynden School District Superintendent David VanderYacht is helping to lead the effort to pass the amendments. He called the state’s current gender-identity guidelines “unworkable,” describing the current proposals as “female-forward” and aligning with Title IX’s intent to protect against discrimination and provide equal opportunity for female athletes.

 

The proposal comes amid increased discussion nationwide regarding transgender athletes. States such as Washington are operating with more inclusive policies, while states such as Texas have banned transgender students from from playing on sports teams that don’t correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth.