Washington State advocates oppose parental rights initiatives

The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault is urging voters to reject Initiatives 001 and 638 in the upcoming November election. Advocates express concern that these measures could compromise the safety and privacy of young people in schools.

Initiative 001, framed by supporters as a parental rights measure, would change how schools manage sensitive student information, including health and counseling records. Critics argue it would roll back protections for students whose parents are under criminal investigation for abuse, potentially discouraging youth from seeking help from trusted adults. The measure would also allow parents to opt students out of activities involving subjects such as mental health, sexuality, and religion.

Initiative 638 focuses on school athletics, proposing to prevent transgender girls from participating on girls’ sports teams. The initiative would also require female athletes to provide medical verification of their sex based on genetics, reproductive anatomy, or testosterone levels, which advocates claim could lead to invasive and expensive medical evaluations.