Carleen Johnson
The Center Square Washington
A rally is planned in Camas on Wednesday, in support of female athletes on the Camas High School cross-country team who walked out of a competition earlier this month, refusing to race against a biological male.
The male athlete who identifies as female is a junior at Camas High School and was previously a member of the boys’ cross-country team as of Sept. 5, placing 76th in a varsity race at a regional match.
By late September, the same student was running with the girls’ team.
“This is the first time where we’ve had a student athlete make the switch mid-season, so that drew some attention to it,” said Camas School District Superintendent Dr. John Anzalone in an Oct. 9 phone interview with The Center Square.
“I know other districts around the country have faced this and I’m not sure we’re going to be the last,” said Anzalone.
The district leader said they follow Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules when it comes to male athletes who identify as female.
“We follow the WIAA policy which is student athletes that are transitioning can compete in the gender they are comfortable with. So, we don’t get to make eligibility decisions. We’re part of WIAA, so their policy is our policy.”
Videos posted on social media showed the cross-country girls from Skyview and Camas High Schools walking away from the race Oct. 13, and the story garnered national attention soon after.
The controversy comes as Washington voters consider ballot initiative I-638, which asks if girls sports should be for biological girls only.
Opponents of the measure, including No Hate in WA State, have suggested students participating in female sports will have to undergo invasive exams to prove gender identity, but text of the initiative states:
“A student who elects to participate in individual or team competition activities intended for female students only shall provide a required routine sports physical examination, a health examination and consent form or other statement signed by the student's personal health care provider that verifies the student's biological sex.”
The WIAA supports allowing students to participate on teams that align with whatever gender they identify with on any given day.
Tumwater High School senior Frances Staudt was one of the first students in Washington to stand up in opposition to biological males competing in female sports.
She was 15 when she sat out the final basketball game of her sophomore year in February 2024 rather than compete against a team with an 18-year-old male player who identified as female.
She was investigated by the WIAA and her school district for harassment and bullying, because of a comment she made as she walked out of the game.
Staudt was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing.
She told The Center Square in a Monday interview she hopes the students who walked off the course rather than compete with and against a biological male will feel encouraged.
“Just by their act of courage and not saying anything hateful or negatively towards anyone individually…they showed an act of courage and that’s what we need more people to do,” said Staudt.
Chris Reykdal, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction told KIRO News that the girls who protested their male teammate have a right to act as they see fit.
“The much larger issue here is — can we accommodate 10, 12, 15 kids a year, and make them feel included,” said Reykdal.
“Or do we have to go through an initiative process where every single girl has to prove through one of three methods that she is a girl in order to participate?” Reykdal said.
Staudt told The Center Square she believes Reykdal has dodged the larger questions.
“He will never give a direct answer. It seems like it’s always in support of transgender athletes, and as a true woman, that’s hurtful, because why did we fight so hard for Title IX?” she asked.
“Why did we fight so hard for women’s rights to be able to compete in sports and have these opportunities just for guys to be able to take them away?” Staudt said.
As previously reported, The Center Square facilitated a meeting between Reykdal, Staudt and Ahnaleigh Wilson, a Wenatchee student who was the first in Washington state to speak out against having to compete against biological males.
Wilson was one of the students who attended a Seattle Storm game over the summer carrying signs supporting Sophie Cunningham, the WNBA player who has spoken out to protect female sports. Storm co-owner Celeste Keaton hurled insults at the girls, prompting a multi-game suspension from the league.
The Wednesday rally called "Camas Courage" will include female athletes from Skyview, Battle Ground, and Camas high schools.
Multiple girls are expected to speak publicly for the first time about their experiences competing against male athletes who identify as female. Parents will also share their concerns.
Staudt will also attend and speak at the 2 p.m. event.
Lawmakers who plan to attend include Senator John Braun, Representative David Stuebe, Senator Paul Harris and Rep. John Ley.
The Camas Courage: Support Our Girls rally and press conference will be held at UL Campus, 2815 NW Leadbetter Rd.
This report was first published by The Center Square Washington.
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