Transgender sports bans head to voters in Democratic states, potentially setting a national precedent
Demonstrators protest prior to the start of a WNBA game between the Indiana Fever and Minnesota Lynx quarter at Target Center on August 02, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Colorado and Washington activists are seeking voter approval for proposed bans on transgender women and girls competing in female sports, after lawmakers in both Democratic-led states rejected similar measures.
Why you should care:
The ballot questions would be the first such restrictions decided directly by voters. Twenty-seven states already have laws limiting transgender athletes, and a June Quinnipiac University poll found about 7 in 10 registered voters oppose allowing transgender women and girls to compete on female sports teams.
SCOTUS upholds transgender athlete ban
The Supreme Court decided that states are allowed to stop transgender girls from playing on girls’ and women’s school sports teams. The ruling supported laws in Idaho and West Virginia that ban transgender girls from joining those teams. The decision was 6-3, with the conservative justices voting in favor and the liberal justices voting against. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said the bans do not illegally discriminate based on sex or gender identity. The ruling will likely affect similar laws already passed in more than half of U.S. states.
What they're saying:
"What is happening in 2026 is a testing ground for the future," said Chris Melody Fields Figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, which supports LGBTQ+ rights.
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Supporters say the bans would protect fairness in women’s sports. Ahnaleigh Wilson, a 17-year-old Washington high school student, said she finished second to a transgender athlete after winning her 1,600-meter races in seventh and eighth grade.
"I knew it wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair," she said.
The other side:
Opponents say the measures discriminate against transgender youth.
"They will say that they want to protect kids and in particular, young girls," said Nadine Bridges, executive director of One Colorado, "but I don’t understand how you can protect kids and discriminate against kids at the same time."
Virginia school board meeting on transgender policies
A local school board meeting was convened to address the suspension of two Virginia teen students. The suspensions followed a video recording where the students questioned why a female student who identifies as male was in the boys locker room. Speaking at the event was Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee for governor in this year's election.
Big picture view:
The Washington measure would require a health care provider to verify a student’s "biological sex, relying only on one or more of the following: The student’s reproductive anatomy, genetic makeup, or normal endogenously produced testosterone levels."
"We see that as being as simple as a checkbox," said Let’s Go Washington spokesperson Hallie Herzberg.
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Opponents fear the requirement could lead to genital examinations or expensive testing. Dr. Libby Loft called the proposed process unnecessary.
"I think it doesn't make any sense to force the working families of … girl sports players in Washington to pay for unnecessary medical tests to be able to weed out an estimated five or 10 girls in the state of Washington, trans girls," Loft said.
The Source: The Associated Press contributed to this report. The story is based on reporting from The Associated Press, including information from state ballot initiatives, public statements by supporters and opponents, a Quinnipiac University poll and comments from political scientists, athletes, medical professionals and advocacy groups. This story was reported from Los Angeles.