ADF seeks to defend Washington girls sports measure, argues state cannot fully represent female athletes
The Nov.13 motion asks King County Superior Court to allow Female Athletes United to join the case as a defendant to defend Initiative 638.
The request seeks the court’s permission to participate; it is not an order granting intervention."We’re asking to be allowed to step in and help the state of Washington defend the validity of the law so that I-638 goes into effect on December 3rd, just like the voters in the state of Washington asked for," ADF attorney Hal Frampton told Fox News Digital.WASHINGTON AG'S OFFICE INDICATES IT WILL DEFEND GIRLS' SPORTS BALLOT MEASURE AFTER ACLU SUES TO BLOCK ITThe initiative would prohibit students who are biologically male from competing in school athletic competitions designated for female students.It also requires participants in girls’ competitions to provide verification of their biological sex from their personal healthcare provider as part of the sports physical process.The lawsuit challenging it includes parents, TransFamilies and the Washington Education Association as plaintiffs.
They argue the measure violates Washington’s constitution, including privacy and equal-rights protections, by excluding transgender girls and imposing sex-verification requirements on participants in girls’ sports that do not apply to boys’ sports.Asked whether he trusted Washington Attorney General Nick Brown to defend the initiative, Frampton pointed to the athletes his organization represents."We trust female athletes to defend the law on behalf of the state of Washington," he said."That’s why we’re seeking to intervene and make sure that their perspective is part of the, part of the picture and part of the process."The motion argues that Washington’s previous defense of transgender participation in girls’ sports could prevent it from advancing all the arguments Female Athletes United wants the court to consider."While the State may defend its law as a permissible policy choice, FAU will argue not only that the Initiative...