Washington state's Initiative 638, which would require K-12 athletes to compete on teams aligned with their biological sex, held a substantial lead in unofficial election returns.Staudt, speaking at a watch party hosted by Let's Go Washington — the organization that spearheaded the initiative — couldn't contain her emotion."We did it!" said Staudt, who said she's endured daily harassment since refusing to play basketball against a biological boy two in March 2025.
"It's not been an easy fight, and I'm so proud of us.And I'm so happy to be here with a victory.
Washington people have had enough."L-R: Female athletes Frances Staudt, Bailey Andersen and Sadie Sullivan sit before sharing their stories about competing against biological males and sharing locker rooms with them at Fairness in Girls' Sports rally in Vancouver, Washington.(Derek Shook for OutKick)WOMEN WHO FACED BIOLOGICAL MALES IN GIRLS' SPORTS AND LOCKER ROOMS SPEAK OUT AHEAD OF WASHINGTON STATE VOTEJust before Staudt's speech, the "yes" vote on I-638 held a 13.6 percent lead over "no" with 60 percent of the ballots counted.
At press time, prediction market Kalshi gave the measure a 91 percent chance of passing.If approved, it would mark two historic firsts: the first time voters approved a statewide law separating boys' and girls' K-12 sports, and the first time such a law was enacted in a blue state.Twenty-seven other states — all of which Donald Trump won in 2024 — enforce said separation.
But those laws were passed by state legislatures, not directly by voters.Supporters hope I-638 will have a ripple effect across the country, inspiring similar laws in other states."I think this is a big bellwether for the state," said Let's Go Washington founder Brian Heywood, celebrating an initiative that, if approved, could go into effect within 30 days."This was citizens who are voting very blue still in a lot of ways saying, hey, it's not a Republican/Democrat issue, it's a parental issue, it's a fai...