Executive Summary
Two ballot initiatives expected to appear on the November 2026 Washington State ballot would roll back protections for students and target LGBTQ+ young people across the state. IL26-001 would repeal the Safety Act — forcing schools to out LGBTQ+ students, restricting access to school counselors, and releasing sensitive student records. IL26-638 would ban transgender students from school sports and mandate invasive genital examinations for girls who want to compete.
This brief explains what each initiative does, who is behind them, and why Gender Justice League Action and the No Hate in WA State coalition are fighting to defeat both.
Initiative IL26-001: Repealing the Safety Act
What It Does
IL26-001 would repeal Washington's Safety Act — a law enacted to protect students' access to support services in schools. If passed, the initiative would:
- Force schools to out LGBTQ+ students. Schools would be required to disclose information about a student's sexual orientation or gender identity to parents or guardians — regardless of whether the student's home environment is safe. For students facing potential abuse, rejection, or homelessness, this mandatory disclosure could be devastating.
- Restrict access to school counselors. The initiative would limit when and how school counselors can provide support to students, particularly on matters related to gender identity and sexual orientation. For students in crisis — who may have no other trusted adult to turn to — this restriction could cut off their only lifeline.
- Release sensitive student records. Private information about a student's identity would become accessible to anyone claiming parental authority, undermining the confidentiality protections that allow students to seek help safely.
Who It Harms
The students most affected by IL26-001 are those who are already the most vulnerable: LGBTQ+ youth in unsupportive or abusive homes, students who rely on school counselors as their primary source of emotional support, and young people who are still figuring out their identity in an environment that should be safe for exploration and growth.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ youth who are rejected by their families face dramatically higher rates of depression, homelessness, and suicidality. Forcing schools to out students — rather than allowing trained professionals to navigate family dynamics with care — puts young lives at risk.
Initiative IL26-638: Invasive Exams and Sports Bans
What It Does
IL26-638 would ban transgender students from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity and mandate physical examinations to verify sex. If passed, the initiative would:
- Mandate invasive genital examinations. Girls who want to participate in school sports could be subjected to physical inspections to verify their sex. This is not a hypothetical concern — it is the mechanism written into the initiative. Any girl whose body, appearance, or athletic ability is questioned could be forced to undergo examination.
- Ban transgender students from sports entirely. Transgender students would be excluded from the teams, friendships, physical activity, and sense of belonging that school sports provide — benefits that every major pediatric health organization recognizes as essential to adolescent development.
- Create a climate of suspicion and policing. The initiative doesn't just target transgender students. It creates a system where any girl who doesn't conform to gender stereotypes — who is too tall, too strong, too muscular, or simply different — could be singled out for scrutiny.
Who It Harms
Every girl who plays school sports in Washington State is potentially affected by IL26-638. The examination requirement is not limited to transgender students — it applies to any student whose sex is "questioned." This means that girls who are athletic, girls who develop differently, girls who don't look the way someone expects a girl to look, could all be subjected to invasive physical inspection.
For transgender students specifically, the initiative would eliminate their ability to participate in one of the most important social and developmental activities available to young people. School sports are where students learn teamwork, build confidence, develop friendships, and stay physically healthy. Excluding transgender students from these experiences causes real, measurable harm.
Who Is Behind These Initiatives
Both initiatives are funded and coordinated by national organizations that have pursued similar efforts in multiple states. These groups have made targeting LGBTQ+ students a central strategy — using fear-based messaging about "parental rights" and "fairness in sports" to advance policies that harm real children.
This is not a grassroots effort by concerned Washington parents. It is a coordinated national campaign that has chosen Washington as a target. If these initiatives succeed here, the same playbook will be deployed in every state with similar protections.
What the Evidence Actually Shows
On Student Safety (IL26-001)
- Forced outing increases harm. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that LGBTQ+ youth who were outed to their families without their consent experienced significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to those who disclosed on their own terms.
- School counselors save lives. Access to supportive adults at school is one of the strongest protective factors against suicide among LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project's 2024 National Survey found that LGBTQ+ young people who had access to affirming school staff were 35% less likely to attempt suicide.
- Existing laws already protect parental rights. Parents in Washington already have extensive rights to access their children's educational records and participate in their education. The Safety Act does not eliminate parental rights — it provides trained professionals with the discretion to protect students in dangerous situations.
On Sports Participation (IL26-638)
- Transgender student athletes are not a competitive threat. The number of transgender students participating in school sports in Washington is extremely small. There is no evidence of systemic competitive advantage — and every major sports governing body, including the NCAA and the International Olympic Committee, has developed policies that allow transgender athletes to compete.
- Genital examinations are medically unnecessary and harmful. No medical organization supports mandatory genital examinations as a method of sex verification for sports participation. The practice is invasive, traumatizing, and has been condemned by pediatric health organizations.
- Sports bans harm all students. Excluding any group of students from school sports undermines the educational mission of interscholastic athletics, which exists to promote physical health, social development, and teamwork — not to serve as a venue for discrimination.
How to Defeat Them
The No Hate in WA State coalition — led by Gender Justice League, SEIU 775, ACLU of Washington, Washington Education Association, Pro-Choice Washington, GSBA, and UFCW 3000 — is building the campaign to defeat both initiatives through:
- Deep canvassing — trained volunteers having real conversations with voters about what these initiatives actually do to real students and real families
- Broad coalition — civil rights organizations, educators, healthcare providers, faith communities, labor unions, business leaders, and parents united in saying NO
- Voter education — ensuring voters understand the actual provisions of these initiatives, not just the misleading framings of their proponents
- Grassroots fundraising — matching opposition spending through community-driven fundraising across all 39 counties
The evidence from past ballot campaigns is clear: when voters learn what these initiatives actually do — mandate genital exams for girls, force schools to out vulnerable students — they overwhelmingly vote no. Our job is to make sure every voter knows the truth before November.
What You Can Do
- Sign the pledge at gjlaction.org/take-action
- Volunteer with the No Hate in WA State deep canvassing operation
- Donate to the campaign at gjlaction.org/donate
- Talk to your neighbors — the most powerful tool in this campaign is a conversation
- Share the facts — most voters don't know what these initiatives actually do. When they find out, they oppose them.
Gender Justice League Action is a 501(c)(4) social welfare organization. This policy brief is provided for educational and advocacy purposes. For press inquiries: [email protected]