Letter to the Editor: Ballot initiatives I-001 and I-638 are not good for our children
Saturday, September 5, 2026
I was deeply relieved to read that our city council passed a resolution opposing two harmful ballot initiatives, I-001 and I-638. It speaks volumes that the resolution passed unanimously — it’s clear to many Washingtonians that these measures are not good for our children.
As a physician, I’m outraged by I-638. This initiative targets trans girls, but will impact all girls. I-638 would require all girls who want to participate in school sports to medically verify their sex, defined as a physical “reproductive organ exam,” or costly genetic or hormone testing. This means many elementary, middle, and high school-aged girls could be forced to undergo invasive genital exams, just so they can play on a team.
I’m one among a hundred Washington medical professionals who’ve issued a statement opposing I-638 because it would be harmful for young girls. Major medical organizations, including the AAFP and the AAP, do not recommend genital exams for girls as a part of sports physicals.
Initiative 001 would force schools to hand over sensitive information about child abuse victims to their parental abusers. This put children at a greater risk of violence at home, and discourages students dealing with sexual abuse from seeking help at school. As a survivor of child sexual abuse, I would not have felt safe speaking to school counselors if I-001 was in place when I was young. Our students deserve safe spaces to get support.
These two initiatives will cause harm, are based in harmful far-right ideology, and do not have a place in WA state law. Voters can join me and Shoreline City Council by rejecting both measures this November.
Caitlin Blau, DO,
Shoreline
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5 comments:
The party of small government is forgetting their the part of small government.
No more embarrassing than turn your head and cough.
Dr Blau - as you well know, genetic testing to determine sex (rather than your visual inspection) has been in use since the ‘60s. And if this is all about cost, it’s worth noting that costly physicals are already required for participation in school sports. As well as costly gear and multiple other expenses.
That test is to check for cancer, no? To keep you alive? This is invasive and needless.
A doctor would not think it at all odd to examine the genitals of a child during a sports exam. One might think that the agenda here is more than a concerned doctor. To have an agenda is fine but to mask it under "doctor" is not.
..."one of a hundred in this state" is no doubt accurate. The vast majority of drs can tell the difference between male and female after an exam. If they couldn't we all should be concerned.
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