‘Who gets to question whether a girl is a girl?’: Gee and Ursula expect legal fight as Seattle School Board weighs suing over I-638

The Seattle School Board could vote Monday to take legal action against I-638, Washington’s newly approved ban on transgender girls competing in girls’ school sports. KIRO hosts Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin both expect the measure to end up in court.

The board is set to consider authorizing Superintendent Ben Shuldiner and district attorneys to challenge the initiative, which passed with about 56% of the vote. Board President Gina Topp said there are questions about whether the measure is constitutional.

The initiative requires girls to provide medical verification of their biological sex to compete. Ursula noted that it could involve a genital exam, hormone test, or chromosome test. The Seattle-based Gender Justice League is also exploring a lawsuit arguing the requirements violate students’ privacy rights under the state constitution, KUOW reported.

Supporters say the ban protects fairness in girls’ sports. The law is scheduled to take effect Dec. 3.

Gee: ‘There might be an actual legal challenge on this one’

Gee voted for I-638, but he said again that he struggled with the decision.

“This is probably one of the worst votes I think I’ve ever made in my life,” Gee said on “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “I was so torn on this entire thing.”

He said people can debate whether transgender girls should play girls’ sports. The medical verification requirement is what worries him, especially because it applies only to girls.

“It’s just for girls, not for boys at all,” Gee said. “There might be an actual legal challenge on this one.”

‘I voted my conscience’: Ursula explains her I-638 vote

Ursula voted against the initiative. She said both hosts heard from listeners who disagreed with how they voted.

“I’m not here to appease anyone else,” she said. “I voted my conscience.”

She said concerns about fairness in girls’ sports are legitimate, but she believes the initiative goes too far. She also questioned who would decide which students have to prove their sex.

“Who gets to question whether a girl is a girl? The coach? Is it an opposing team? Is it a parent who thinks a girl doesn’t look feminine enough?” Ursula asked. “There were a lot of questions that weren’t answered with this particular initiative.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio.