GOP group falsely implies pediatricians support genital exams in anti-trans sports bans

Let’s Go Washington mentioned the AAP in its description of Initiative Measure No. IL26-638, a law that would require girl student-athletes statewide to confirm their “biological sex” with genital inspections in order to play sports. In its description, Let’s Go Washington noted that the AAP recommends annual checkups for children. While this is true, the AAP suggests annual health checkups, not sports physicals. Such checkups don’t involve genital inspections, and the academy worries that mentioning its name could confuse Washington voters into thinking the AAP approves of the ballot measure (which it doesn’t).

The description in the voter’s guide states, “Students would compete in the category that aligns with their sex, verified during routine, medically necessary primary care recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. During a private, consented visit, a licensed medical professional would verify sex based on the student’s birth records, medical history and/or a standard, non-invasive physical examination.”

The AAP is the largest professional association of pediatricians in the United States. The AAP’s Washington chapter contacted the state’s voters’ pamphlet team to request removal of the academy’s name. The team connected the AAP with the Let’s Go Washington committee that wrote the description, but the committee declined the request.

“There’s nothing actually inaccurate with what we said. So ultimately, we just decided to leave it,” said Hallie Herzberg, a spokesperson for Let’s Go Washington.

The pamphlet team and Washington’s secretary of state both say there’s nothing they can do to remove the AAP’s name without a court order.

Heather Weiner, a consultant on the No Hate For Washington State campaign (a pro-LGBTQ+ group that opposes the ballot measure), noted that the AAP has neither supported nor opposed the measure. She also noted that over 100 doctors and other medical professionals recently released a statement against the initiative.

“Under IL26-638, all girls who want to play on a team at the K-12 level will need a medical certification of her sex defined as a physical ‘reproductive organ exam,’ or costly genetic or hormone testing,” the statement says. The statement also notes, “Washington state sports physicals do not require sex testing because, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, sports physicals should focus on life-threatening conditions like heart, bone, and lung issues.”