Voters in Washington and Colorado have passed ballot measures requiring that school sports be separated by sex, approving Initiative 638 in Washington and Proposition 134 in Colorado. The results come after a yearslong, often bitter public fight over transgender participation in women’s and girls’ athletics, one that has included harassment and physical altercations at sporting events around the country.
In Colorado, opponents of Proposition 134 outspent supporters of the measure by nearly 18 to 1, pouring in $4.9 million against roughly $270,000 from the ‘yes’ campaign. Despite that financial gap, the measure passed. In Washington, opponents of Initiative 638 warned in ads and newspaper endorsements that the measure could lead to invasive physical exams of student athletes. Voters approved it anyway.
A Pattern of Harassment
The debate over the measures unfolded against a backdrop of public confrontations involving women’s sports advocates. In July, Washington high school student Ahnaleigh Wilson attended a rally in Seattle supporting WNBA guard Sophie Cunningham at Climate Pledge Arena. Wilson was holding a sign reading “Thank You Sophie For Speaking Up For Girls!” when Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton approached her and cursed at her, allegedly saying, “You’re f—ing insane. I hope Jesus can forgive you.” Wilson was brought to tears, according to the account.
Frances Staudt, another Washington student, has said she has faced daily harassment at Tumwater High School since declining to play against a male athlete in a basketball game more than two years ago, including people telling her they hope she “chokes and dies.” Kendall Kotzmacher, a former high school softball player, said that at a Cunningham rally in Minnesota earlier this year, a counterprotester told her she should have been aborted.
Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics, shared video last month showing her and her friends being escorted to the concourse by security at a Golden State Valkyries game in San Francisco, during which a woman told her to “f—ing kill yourself.”
At a Portland Thorns game two Fridays ago, roughly 20 XX-XY supporters unfurled a banner reading “Save Women’s Sports.” According to witness accounts, Thorns supporters yelled obscenities, sent one woman tumbling over two rows of seats, and poked women with flagpoles brought into the stadium. It was the Save Women’s Sports group that was ultimately removed from the venue, not those accused of the physical altercation. Seattle-based podcaster Brandi Kruse said her hand was restrained behind her back as she was walked out.
A Lyft driver reportedly removed four passengers wearing XX-XY shirts from his car after learning of their affiliation with the group.
A Climate of Silence
The atmosphere of intimidation has extended to ordinary parents. At a cross country meet roughly a month ago involving a boy who had switched to the girls’ team midseason, only two of about 100 parents present agreed to speak on the record, with most declining to comment even anonymously. One father reportedly explained his reluctance by saying, “I don’t want my house burned down.”
Despite that climate, voters in both states approved the ballot measures by wide enough margins to pass, suggesting public sentiment on the issue diverged sharply from the intensity of opposition seen at public events and in campaign spending.
