RENTON—The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) Representative Assembly announced Monday, April 21, that two transgender related advisory amendments—one restricting participation in girls’ sports to be limited to “biological females” and the other that would have offered separate athletic programs for boys, girls, and an open division for all students—did not meet the 60% threshold to pass.
“The WIAA remains committed to following Washington state law and will continue to do so moving forward. If state law changes in the future, the WIAA Executive Board holds the authority to revise policies accordingly—and now has input from the membership on how to proceed in that event, while remaining in compliance with state law,” The WIAA issued in a statement.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) is the governing body for athletics and activities in secondary education schools across the state of Washington. It serves nearly 800-member high schools and middle/junior high schools, both public and private, divided into six geographic service districts.
The WIAA’s vote comes just months after President Donald J Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday, January 5, which would prohibit transgender women and girls from participating in women’s sports.
“Due to my executive order, which I proudly signed yesterday, the NCAA has officially changed their policy of allowing men in women’s sports — it is now banned,” wrote President Trump a day after signing. “This is a great day for women and girls across the country. Men should have never been allowed to compete against women in the first place, but I am proud to be the President to save women’s sports.”
This order amends the Biden Administration’s Title IX civil rights law which prevents sex-based discrimination in education programs and activities which receive federal funding. This guidance required schools to allow transgender students to participate in activities, and use school-based facilities such as restrooms, that align with their gender identities. However, Trump’s order will not only remove this requirement but prohibit those who were assigned male at birth from participating in female activities or using female restrooms.
On February 7, Washington Attorney General Nick Brown held a press conference at the Attorney General’s Seattle Office to announce that his office has filed a lawsuit challenging the President’s order, which the Attorney General called “illegal” and “dehumanizing.”
The WIAA’s guidelines will continue to state that all students, regardless of gender identity, are encouraged to participate in WIAA athletics that are consistent with their gender identity.
“The purpose of this policy,” the handbook states. “Is to offer clarity with respect to the participation of trans and gender diverse athletes.”
WIAA, a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, receives little to no financial support from the State of Washington nor federal tax dollars.
Under Washington state law, Chapter 49.60 RCW, it is illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex, among other things such as race, religion, disabilities, and so on.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) also has existing guidance says that, under this law, schools “are required to allow all students, including transgender and nonbinary students, the opportunity to participate on the interscholastic sports team that most closely aligns with their gender identity.”
Of the seven proposed amendments that did make the cut the WIAA has sanctioned a new sport for the first time since 1999: Girls Flag Football.
The membership also approved a significant change to transfer eligibility rules, allowing eligible high schoolers to transfer once per four-year high school career, but only within specific designated windows. Under this new rule, a student athlete would also be ineligible for varsity competition for 40% of the maximum number of allowable contests for sports played the previous year.
This amendment is the result of a 22-person committee, established in January 2024, which evaluated how WIAA eligibility policies align with Washington State education goals and objectives, and whether existing policies disproportionately impact students.
Additionally, two WIAA Executive Board positions were up for vote. Jeff Lowell (Bellevue School District, WIAA District 2) and Russ Waterman (Eastmont High School, WIAA District 5) were re-elected to their seats on the Executive Board.
“I am incredibly thankful for the membership’s hard work throughout this amendment cycle, and the WIAA is excited to welcome a new activity to the Association. We’re thankful to the Seattle Seahawks and James Neil for their leadership in helping bring Girls Flag Football to this point, and we look forward to continuing that partnership as the sport grows statewide,” Executive Director Mick Hoffman said. “This process has highlighted the leadership and dedication of athletic administrators from across the state, who have spent months engaging in thoughtful discussions and collaboration. Their commitment ensured the amendment process was both inclusive and effective, and we’re proud to move forward with changes that reflect the voices of our member schools.”
Discussions on these policy changes began during Winter Coalition on Monday, January 26, and included more than five member schools as well as the WIAA Executive Board. The WIAA Representative Assembly voted on these policy changes from April 9 through April 18.
For an amendment to pass, 60 percent approval is needed from voting members of the Assembly. A total of 32 votes are needed for a middle-level/high-school amendment to pass, while 21 votes are needed for a high school amendment to pass and 11 votes are needed for a middle-level amendment to pass.
Author: Kienan Briscoe
