They passed. First, Initiative 638 in Washington. Then, Prop 134 in Colorado.
Two measures that will enforce the separation of boys and girls in sports — two measures that show common sense can prevail over partisanship.
Many will view these results as a bellwether for where the rest of the country is heading. If policies like these can pass in deep-blue states, proponents will argue they can pass anywhere.
WASHINGTON STATE VOTERS APPEAR TO PASS FIRST-EVER BALLOT MEASURE SEPARATING BOYS AND GIRLS SPORTS
But me? I see something else entirely. I see the people finally sticking it to the bullies.
Let’s go back to July, when Washington high school student Ahnaleigh Wilson attended a rally supporting Fever guard Sophie Cunningham at Climate Pledge Arena. Do you remember what happened inside the venue after the game started? Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton approached Wilson — who was holding a sign reading “Thank You Sophie For Speaking Up For Girls!” — and began cursing her out.
“You’re f—ing insane,” she allegedly said. “I hope Jesus can forgive you.”
Wilson was brought to tears…but this was hardly a one-off.
Fellow Washingtonian Frances Staudt chose not to play against a male in a high school basketball game over two years ago. Since then, she said she has endured daily harassment at Tumwater High, with people telling her they hope she chokes and dies and goes to hell. Former high school softball star Kendall Kotzmacher may have had it worse. At a Cunningham rally in Minnesota earlier this year, a pro-trans counterprotester told her that she should have been aborted.
And don’t for a minute think this stops with the kids. XX-XY Athletics founder Jennifer Sey shared a video of her and her friends being called to the concourse to meet with security at a Golden State Valkyries game last month. During their march up the stairs, a woman flipped her the bird and told her to “f—ing kill yourself.” But that was just a foreshock to what women’s sports advocates endured at a Portland Thorns game two Fridays ago.
After a group of about 20 XX-XY supporters unfurled a banner that said “Save Women’s Sports,” Thorns supporters started yelling “f— you” before sending one woman tumbling over two rows of seats. They also started poking women with flagpoles they’d brought into the stadium. I saw this up close while reporting for OutKick, but had my phone knocked out of my hand and beer poured on me while filming it.
So who got kicked out? Not the assaulters. Nope, it was the peaceful Save Women’s Sports crowd — with Seattle-based podcaster Brandi Kruse having her hand restrained behind her back as she was walked up to the concourse.
Even a Lyft driver got in on the hazing, as he booted four XX-XY shirt-wearers from his car once he found out who they were aligned with. The bullies are everywhere.
But you know what? They lost.
People don’t have to be afraid to take a pro female stance on this issue anymore. The outrage mob may try to sink their talons into anyone who does, but they’ve been declawed by the will of the people — who sliced right through the propaganda.
Did you know opponents of Prop 134 outspent the ‘yes’ campaign nearly 18 to 1—dropping $4.9 million against just $270,000—only to come up empty? Did you see all those ads or newspaper endorsements in Washington claiming that I-638 was going to lead to “invasive genital exams?”
Nobody bought it. The two measures sailed through in two of the bluer states in the country.
Just less than a month ago, I was at a cross country meet where a boy who switched to the girls team midseason was competing. Out of maybe 100 parents I tried to talk with, just two went on the record — and the vast majority refused to even be quoted anonymously.
Said one father: “I don’t want my house burned down.”
SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTER
The bullies have been throwing blows on this issue for years now. Just ask advocates such as Riley Gaines, who’s been enduring them from every angle.
The thing about bullies, though, is they always feel small inside. After these two measures passed, they feel even smaller.