Washington voters approve Initiative 638 on girls’ sports eligibility

Washington voters approved Initiative 638, requiring health-care-provider verification of sex for students seeking to compete in girls’ school sports. The measure was projected to pass on November 4, with 57% supporting it and 43% opposing it when 68% of estimated votes had been counted, according to the Associated Press projection. Other election-night reports put support at about 56% to 57%. The count was not final in those early reports. Under the initiative, students seeking to participate in girls’ school sports must have their sex verified by a health-care provider. The measure lists reproductive anatomy, genetic characteristics or testosterone levels as possible bases for verification. It applies to girls’ athletics; reporting on the measure said transgender boys are unaffected and students may still compete in boys’ or coed sports. The initiative leaves school boards and other governing entities to establish how verification will be carried out. Supporters have said it could rely on existing clinical history or a routine sports physical. Medical providers cited in reporting said sex verification is not part of a typical sports physical. The precise procedures schools...