Washington athletics org's proposals to change trans-athlete policy would violate state law, official says
Kennewick School Board President Gabe Galbraith and Vice President Micah Valentine react to Washington State school officials defying President Trump's executive order on transgender athletes in girls' sports.
Washington appears to be the latest state that is getting set for a showdown over its decision to allow biological males to play in girls’ and women’s sports despite President Donald Trump’s executive order in February.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA)’s Representative Assembly proposed two amendments to its policies that would keep girls' sports to biological females only and potentially offer an open division if student-athletes were interested.
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Washington state is set up for a showdown over trans athletes in girls' and women's sports.
However, WIAA commutations director Sean Bessette said in a statement to The Seattle Times on Tuesday that the proposals would violate state law.
"The WIAA has been told by the Attorney General’s office, the Office for Civil Rights, and the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction that proposed amendments ML/HS #7 and ML/HS #8 would be a violation under current Washington state law, affirming our attorney’s legal review," Bessette told the paper. "The WIAA remains committed to following state law, and those amendments focused on gender-identity participation would not be implemented on August 1 if they were to pass under current state law.
"If state law were to change, the WIAA’s Executive Board has the authority and would need to alter the Association’s rules accordingly."
The proposals will be voted on by the 53-person representative assembly but no changes will be made to the rules. The