Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Chris Reykdal, defended transgender athletes’ rights to participate in girls’ sports during an address on Thursday.
He argued that it was scientifically inaccurate to claim that only boys and girls exist biologically, emphasizing that intersex children and individuals with inconsistent hormones or chromosomes are part of the natural diversity of gender.
Reykdal affirmed that Washington’s civil rights laws ensure students can participate in sports according to their gender identity.
Reykdal also criticized former President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from girls’ sports, pointing out that only a small number of transgender youth, 5 to 10, participate in such activities in Washington.
He questioned the inability to accommodate such a small group, highlighting the state’s civil rights framework that upholds inclusion.
Additionally, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association WIAA policy allows athletes to compete based on their gender identity.
While proposed bills seeking to prohibit transgender girls from competing in girls’ sports have not passed, the WIAA introduced a proposal to create a separate division for transgender athletes. This policy aims to maintain fair competition and address concerns about safety and equity in girls’ sports.
This debate, involving concerns about fairness in athletic competitions, has led to national conversations and legal challenges, including a civil rights complaint filed against a Washington school district after a student was allegedly punished for refusing to compete against a transgender athlete.