Colorado And Washington Voters Weigh Bans On Trans Girls In School Sports
Voters in Colorado and Washington are set to decide November ballot measures that would ban transgender girls and women from competing on girls' and women's school sports teams.[1]
Washington's Initiative 638 would extend the ban to college sports.[1] It would require a health-care provider to verify a student's "biological sex" using reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or endogenous testosterone.[1] Critics say that requirement could lead to genital exams or expensive testing.[1]
Twenty-seven states, all with Republican control of both the legislature and governor's office, have already passed similar sports-participation bans by statute.[1] Let's Go Washington, funded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, has raised more than $7.8 million for three ballot measures that include the sports ban.[1] Colorado opposition groups have raised nearly $4 million to fight their state's proposal.[1]
A June Quinnipiac poll found about seven in 10 U.S. registered voters think transgender girls and women should not be allowed on female sports teams, with Democrats more divided.[1] Advocates on both sides say the ballot fights will shape policy and legal battles ahead.
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📌 Key Facts
- Colorado and Washington have November 2026 ballot initiatives to ban transgender girls and women from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports, with Washington’s also extending to college sports.
- Twenty-seven states, all with Republican control of both the legislature and governor’s office, have already passed similar sports-participation bans by statute.
- Washington’s Initiative 638 would require a health-care provider to verify a student’s “biological sex” for sports eligibility using reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup or endogenous testosterone, a provision critics say could lead to genital exams or costly testing.
- Let's Go Washington, funded by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, has raised more than $7.8 million for three ballot measures including the sports ban, while Colorado opposition groups have raised nearly $4 million against their state’s proposal.
- Polls such as a June Quinnipiac survey show roughly 7 in 10 U.S. registered voters believe transgender girls and women should not be allowed on female sports teams, with Democrats more divided.
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