Young female athletes in Washington schools would likely have to obtain genital exams to participate in school sports, if a controversial ballot initiative passes in November.

Language in the initiative claims that kids are already required to undergo verification of their “biological sex” before they can play sports. But KUOW spoke with medical professionals and a school sports official who said otherwise. Paperwork used by medical professionals in sports physicals also shows that the initiative would be a departure from current state requirements for athletic participation.

According to the initiative, students would have several options to confirm their sex: a visual genital exam, a lab test to determine their genetic makeup, or an analysis of testosterone levels in the blood. The genital exam, which a medical professional can conduct without touching the child, would likely be the most accessible option for most kids.

  • Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world
    31·
    4 hours ago

    While the law itself is a significant overreach and such. The article is really blowing it out of proportion. Doctors check a kids genitals at their yearly checkup until puberty at least. So thisnis just a simple doc signing off on something they have already done in the past. There will be exceptions of kids who moved or have a new doctor since puberty or something. But they already have to get a medical release usually to play sports anyway. So they will have a new doctor who will have undoubtedly done a general physical anyway. The ones who this really effects is the poor. The ones who don’t have a regulat doctor. Who is going to be doing their medical release… I don’t know. But it should at least be a doctor I believe.
    Not that doctor’s are garunteed safe or anything. But in most cases they were at least vetted by the parents and not some random schmuck showing up at games checking girls crotchs.