What does I-638 have to do with sports physicals?

by Heather McKimmie is an Edmonds mother, athlete and attorney.

The beginning of the school year is upon us and for my family that means the start of multiple sports seasons for my two daughters. We’ve got soccer, volleyball and softball lined up with basketball close behind. Now is also the time for annual medical check-ups and biennial sports physicals to make sure that my kids are healthy enough to play sports.

What does I-638 say about sports physicals?

As I sat with my girls during their annual medical exams and thought back to my older daughter’s sports physical from last year, I couldn’t help but imagine how much more difficult it will be for families, especially for our girls, if a poorly written ballot initiative (I-638), sponsored by a MAGA mega donor, is approved by voters in Washington this November. I-638 puts girls at risk by requiring any girl who wants to play sports to be medically sex certified. According to legal analysis and health professionals, this means girls would be put through invasive, medically unnecessary genital exams or genetic testing.

Who wants to put their daughters through possible harm to play school sports? Not me. I believe children should stay fully clothed during sports physicals, where doctors can focus on checking the child’s lungs, heart and bones. My girls’ genitals were not examined during this year’s annual medical exam, and were not examined in previous sports physicals.

Does I-638 affect boys in sports?

It’s important to note this initiative exempts boys from this new requirement, putting an additional hurdle in front of girls who want to play sports. It’s not really about protecting girls because it will discourage girls from accessing the benefits of physical activity and teamwork.

Why does voting no on I-638 matter?

As a former basketball player from youth through high school and a recreational player of many sports well beyond that, I know how beneficial team sports were to developing my social and leadership skills, my confidence, and my ability to forge relationships with people from different backgrounds. I have also coached youth sports for several years and have watched the children I have coached gain skills, make friends and become leaders on and off the court.

For these reasons, girls need access to sports. In our local middle school there are several “no cut” sports teams. These teams are a way to encourage all students, even those who don’t have a lot of experience or prior access to athletics, to try sports and to get the benefits that come from playing. As kids enter their teen years, many of them struggle with self-esteem issues and mental health challenges. According to a 2023 report by the Children’s Alliance, 58% of Washington adolescents (grades 8-12) experienced anxiety and/or depression and 9% attempted suicide in the previous year. This age is also when many girls drop out of sports. The last thing we should be doing is adding more reasons for them to do so. We should be breaking down barriers to open access to sports for everyone, not putting more barriers up that will most certainly deter many girls from even trying.

What is the bottom line on I-638?

I-638 is an attempt to distract voters from the real issues working families like mine are facing — cost of living, rollback of regulations meant to protect our environment, and safety of our food and water. At its core, I-638 scapegoats transgender youth and puts all of our girls at greater risk with this discriminatory and reckless initiative. Vote no on I-638 in November.