Southwest Washington groups join effort to defeat measures addressing parental rights, girls sports

Voters must decide in November on Initiatives 001 and 638

Balloons festoon a wall Aug. 14 during a No Hate in WA State rally at Fourth Plain Community Commons in Vancouver. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

A rallygoer wears a shirt advocating for trans youth and a pin opposing two ballot measures during the Aug. 14 No Hate in WA State rally in Vancouver.

Queer Community Network Secretary Bren Baker speaks during the Aug. 14 No Hate in WA State rally at Fourth Plain Community Commons in Vancouver. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

State Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, speaks at the Aug. 14 No Hate in WA State rally at Fourth Plain Community Commons in Vancouver. She says Initiative 001 would nullify student protections included in a bill she sponsored that the Legislature adopted last year.

Queer Community Network founder Terah Ebie speaks Aug. 14 during a No Hate in WA State rally at Fourth Plain Community Commons. “These initiatives were designed to divide our community and distract us from the challenges folks are facing,” Ebie said.

A rally attendee reads pamphlets Aug. 14 during a No Hate in WA State rally at Fourth Plain Community Commons in Vancouver. The rally was in opposition to two conservative state ballot initiatives, I-001 and I-638. (Photos by taylor balkom/The Columbian)

More than two dozen Southwest Washington organizations have joined statewide efforts to defeat Initiatives 001 and 638, measures they say would dismantle safeguards for K-12 students.

Backed by conservative multimillionaire financier Brian Heywood’s Let’s Go Washington group, the initiatives have been billed by their supporters as a way to bolster parental rights and protect female student-athletes. But opponents argue the measures are poorly written, lack enforcement provisions and would endanger the state’s most vulnerable youth.

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