Parents and Advocates Sue to Block Washington's Ban on Transgender Girls in Sports

Parents of student athletes in Washington state have sued to block Initiative 638, a measure voters approved that bans transgender girls from women's sports teams. The lawsuit was filed in state court on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, according to The Guardian.

An initiative is a proposal placed directly before voters, and Initiative 638 became law after passing at the ballot box. Under its terms, girls must provide medical documentation of their sex before joining a women's team. That documentation can take the form of hormone or genetic tests, or an examination of reproductive anatomy. The rule covers girls in elementary, middle and high school, and it does not apply to boys. The initiative is due to take effect on Dec. 3, 2026.

The plaintiffs include parents of transgender and cisgender girls, the advocacy group TransFamilies, and the Washington Education Association. They are represented by the ACLU of Washington, Legal Voice and the Pacifica Law Group.

The lawsuit argues that the initiative violates the privacy and equal rights protections in Washington's state constitution. It also argues that the measure breaks an anti-discrimination law that protects transgender people.

On Monday, the Seattle public schools board voted to allow the district to take legal action against the ban.

School officials said earlier in 2026 that they were aware of only about 10 transgender athletes statewide, out of roughly 200,000 student athletes.

Nebraska, Colorado and Arizona have also adopted similar bans on transgender athletes in women's sports.