What’s the problem with sex testing student athletes?

By Dr. Madie Gore, Tacoma

As a Tacoma-based family medicine doctor who treats both adults and kids, I’m outraged about a harmful initiative on November’s ballot. New York Magazine recently wrote about I-638, the most extreme measure of its kind in the country, which will require all girls — and not boys — who want to participate in school sports to submit to medical sex verification.

What exactly will I-638 do?

This initiative would force tens of thousands of young girls to undergo unnecessary genital exams just to play sports with their friends. In fact, all major organizations, including the AAFP, the AAP and the USPSTF, do not recommend genital exams for girls as a part of sports physicals. Many encourage a focus specifically on cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and neurologic health. From a medical, safety and developmental perspective, I-638 is unnecessary, not backed by clinical guidelines, and would create unwarranted stress and harm for young girls.

Aren’t there other ways to test someone’s sex?

The other options to certify sex require parents to pay for expensive genetic or hormone tests, not covered by insurance. Parents are banned from using birth certificates. I-638 will create unnecessary barriers to girls’ participation in school sports.

I hope Washington voters will see that I-638 is purely political rather than safety or medical based.

Madie Gore, Tacoma