Six Washington PFLAG Chapters Join Statewide Coalition Against Anti-LGBTQ Ballot Initiatives

Two ballot initiatives funded by an out-of-state millionaire would force schools to out LGBTQ+ youth and subject girls as young as 11 to invasive exams, and Washington families are pushing back.

Two ballot initiatives funded by an out-of-state millionaire would force schools to out LGBTQ+ youth and subject girls as young as 11 to invasive exams, and Washington families are pushing back.

Newcastle, WA – Six Washington PFLAG chapters have joined a growing coalition of more than 80 distinguished state organizations in opposition to two anti-LGBTQ ballot initiatives scheduled to appear on the November 2026 ballot. The initiatives, funded by an out-of-state millionaire, target LGBTQ+ students in Washington's public schools.

The Initiatives

Two measures are on the November ballot:

  • IL26-001, referred to by opponents as the "Repeal of the Safety Act," would eliminate existing student safety protections that currently shield LGBTQ+ youth in Washington schools.
  • IL26-638, which opponents have named "Putting Girls At Risk," would mandate invasive bodily examinations for female student athletes.

Both initiatives were funded by an out-of-state millionaire and qualified for the ballot by law.

What They Would Do

Taken together, the two initiatives would produce three specific and concrete harms:

Force outing of LGBTQ+ youth. Teachers and school counselors would be legally required to disclose a student's LGBTQ+ identity to their families, including families that are unsupportive or hostile. Research is unambiguous about the consequences: youth who are outed to unsupportive families face significantly higher rates of abuse, mental health crises, and homelessness.

Restrict student access to support. Students who are experiencing domestic violence or sexual abuse at home would face new barriers to accessing help from school counselors, the very professionals trained to support them. At a moment when these students most need a trusted adult, the initiative would limit counselors' ability to respond.

Enable invasive exams for girls. Girls as young as 11 who want to participate in after-school athletics could be forced to undergo invasive physical examinations. The initiative specifically exempts boys from this requirement.

Who Is Opposing Them

Six Washington PFLAG chapters have formally joined the coalition opposing both initiatives:

  • PFLAG Bellevue/Eastside
  • PFLAG Seattle
  • PFLAG Wenatchee/Wenatchee Valley
  • PFLAG Olympia
  • PFLAG Skagit
  • PFLAG Bellingham/Whatcom County

They stand alongside more than 80 other distinguished state organizations that have signed on in opposition. Washington has a long history of defeating out-of-state-funded attacks on civil rights at the ballot box, and advocates are confident that history can repeat itself here.

How to Take Action

Contact your legislators. Call or submit a written comment at leg.wa.gov/help/contact-us. If you call, you will typically reach voicemail, identify yourself as a constituent, state that you oppose these initiatives, and keep your message brief so staffers can tally responses efficiently. A written comment form is also available; it looks up your legislators by address and allows you to copy additional representatives.

Learn more and get involved. Full action resources, including a template for contacting newspapers and legislators prepared by Gender Justice League, are available at nohateinwastate.org.

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