The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault urges Washington voters to vote NO on Initiatives 001 and 638 this November.
Both initiatives would change protections for young people in Washington schools. As advocates working to prevent domestic and sexual violence, we’re concerned about how these changes could affect young people’s safety, access to support, and sense of belonging.
Vote NO on I-001
Initiative 001 is being promoted as a measure to protect parents’ rights. But Washington parents already have important rights when it comes to their children’s education.
Initiative 001 would change how schools handle sensitive student information, including health records, and remove language protecting students from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression, and gender identity. It would allow parents under criminal investigation or charged with sexual or physical violence against their child to access sensitive information, discouraging young people from seeking help from other trusted adults.
Most parents want their children to be safe, and supportive parents and caregivers play an important role in young people’s lives. But not every young person is safe at home.
For a child experiencing abuse, a teacher, counselor, or another trusted adult may be the first person they feel safe enough to tell. When young people reach out for help, they need to know that doing so won’t put them in greater danger.
We should make it easier for young people to ask for help, not harder.
Vote NO on I-638
Initiative 638 would prevent transgender girls from playing on girls’ school sports teams. It would also require girls participating in school sports to provide verification from a healthcare provider of their sex based on reproductive anatomy, genetics, or naturally produced testosterone levels.
These requirements could lead to unnecessary, expensive, and invasive medical evaluations and make it harder for some students to play sports.
We don’t keep girls safe by increasing scrutiny of their bodies. And we don’t make schools safer by excluding transgender young people from the activities and communities where they belong.
School sports should be a place where young people can build friendships, confidence, and belonging.
As advocates who have worked with survivors of domestic and sexual violence for decades, we know that preventing abuse is not only about responding after someone has been hurt. It also means building communities where people can live free from violence and discrimination, make decisions about their own bodies, and get help when they need it. Every young person deserves that safety and support.
Vote NO on I-001 and I-638 on November 3.
Resources to learn more:
- About Initiative 001 (No Hate in Washington State)
- About Initiative 638 (No Hate in Washington State)
Campaign website:
Voting information:
- Get Out The Vote Guide (WSCADVSA)
- Proposed Ballot Measure Information (VoteWA.gov)