“All students should have the opportunity to participate in WIAA athletics and/or activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.” 

These are the final words in Lakeside’s section on gender identity in the family handbook, with this exact phrasing being used since 2021 — and it directly conflicts with a new initiative on the ballot in Washington this year.

Initiative 638, originating from conservative PAC Let’s Go Washington, if passed, would ban trangender girls from participating in girls’ sports at the high school level. In an email to the entire student body titled “Our continued commitment to every Lakeside student”, Mr. Boccuzzi and Dr. Mahina, director of athletics, asserted to the Lakeside community that “We stand by our policy [regarding the inclusion of all athletes on teams they identify with] and the values behind it. Whatever the outcome in November, our commitment to our students does not change.” 

 Proponents of the initiative argue that it will prevent people assigned male at birth from having an unfair advantage. Opponents counter with the fact that it prevents transgender girls from participating with a team they feel comfortable in and subjects transgender and cisgender girls to potentially invasive screening or requires them to provide medical documents.

GLOW leader Sophie Wickersheim ’27 also brought up the fact that I638 would require invasive testing to prove female athletes’ gender; she was especially concerned that thousands of girls in the state do not have a regular doctor. Beyond practical concerns with the initiative, she mentioned that she believes it supports a pattern of bills introduced year after year: “Because [I638] is such a small case, it is just a disguised way of scapegoating trans people.” 

In an interview with Tatler, Mr. Boccuzzi said that the decision wasn’t based on discussions with focus groups: the school already knew their position and had stated it in the handbook. Not to mention, the WIAA’s position is that athletes are able to compete on the team that aligns with their gender identity. Unless the league were to change its rules, every participating school will abide by this policy. The administration thus decided to reaffirm their commitment to trans athletes with the email. 

Dr. Mahina largely echoed Mr. Boccuzzi, adding that if the initiative does come to pass, she hopes the community will be thoroughly educated on the impacts it could have on students.

 Initiative 638 will be put to vote on Nov. 3, 2026. In the event that it passes, it will come into effect on Dec. 3, 2026. If it passes, Mr. Boccuzzi is unsure what actions the school will take. “I don’t know what that looks like yet. … We’re not going to do illegal things here as a school. And I’m confident that we, along with our peers and other schools, are going to be able to find a way to hopefully show the care that we know all the members of our community deserve.”