by Molly Wiebush
No Hate In Washington State is a state-wide campaign against two anti-LGBTQ+ ballot initiatives, IL-001 and IL-638. We are an organization of parents, medical professionals, teachers, students, and community members who are standing up against hate, bullying, and harassment in our state.
IL-001 is a poorly-written initiative which would require teachers, school counselors, and other educators to share students’ sensitive information with parents, even when those parents are demonstrably unsafe (for example, parents that are physically abusive). This initiative particularly puts LGBTQ+ children at risk, because it would require educational professionals to out students to their parents. Research says that 40% of unhoused LGBTQ+ youth are unhoused because their parents kicked them out or were abusive because of their identities. IL-001 is being pushed as a “parental rights” bill, but puts Washington’s most vulnerable children at greater risk of harm.
The second initiative, IL-638, would require girls who want to play K-12 sports prove that they are “biologically female”. The requirement that girls have hormonal, chromosomal, or physical exams to “prove” their biological sex — birth certificates are not an eligible form of proof — making this one of the most extreme measures targeting trans girls in sports in the country. Though this initiative is described as a way to make girls sports safe, it exposes girls to invasive and expensive exams (boys are exempt) and reduces accessibility of sports to all girls.
Neither of these initiatives truly represents the interests or political will of the people of Washington state. Their place on the ballot was bought by Brian Heywood, a hedge fund manager who has spent millions of his own money, including using paid signature gatherers and dishonest descriptions to place these initiatives on Washington’s ballot.
While we are being significantly outraised, No Hate In Washington State is dedicated to working to oppose these initiatives and to keeping Washington state safe for all kids, and particularly trans kids. We have endorsements from a large number of organizations, editorial boards, medical professionals, faith leaders and faith-based organizations, labor unions, businesses, and national, state, and municipal officials, organizations, and candidates.
We welcome volunteers and believe that the best way of beating organized money is with organized people. We do weekly canvasses in Olympia, Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. and Sundays 1 p.m - 3 p.m. People who want to canvass but can’t make these times, or who would like to canvass their local neighborhood, can also contact us about canvassing independently. Anyone interested in volunteering or organizing around No Hate in Washington State, or in getting literature to share with their organizations are encouraged to reach out to our regional field organizer at alice@nohateinwastate.org or 480-815-4615.
Resources, including how to write a letter to the editor in support of No Hate In Washington State are also available on our website: https://nohateinwastate.org/. You can find us on social media @nohateinwastate on Instagram. And remember, ballots are due November 3rd!
Molly Wiebush is a volunteer for No Hate in Washington State