Washington state's governing body for middle and high school athletics has rejected a proposal to limit girls' sports to students assigned female at birth.
A proposal to ban transgender girls from participating in girls' sports in Washington state schools was rejected by the state's House Education Committee on February 16, 2022. The bill, proposed by Republican Representative Brad Klippert, aimed to require transgender girls to compete on boys' teams, arguing it would ensure fairness in sports. However, the committee, which is controlled by Democrats, voted 10-5 against the bill, with Democrats asserting that such a ban would be discriminatory and that transgender students should be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity. Critics of the bill, including the ACLU of Washington, praised the decision, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and the negative impact such legislation could have on transgender youth.