Residents across the state of Washington breathed a sigh of relief this week after the passage of Initiative 638 guaranteed girls are finally safe now that they’re required to show an adult their vagina in order to play school sports.
“Thanks to I-638, all my 12-year-old daughter has to do now to be spared the trauma of losing 5th place to a trans girl in track is show her vagina to an adult,” said local father Hank Hanson. “I love that under this new law, not even a birth certificate is enough for a girl to prove her gender because that deprives children of the opportunity to proudly show their reproductive organs to an adult while I stand in the room and watch to add that extra feeling of comfort and safety.”
Girls who play sports from middle school on up thanked the 1.5 million adults who went so out of their way to make minors living in a country run by a pedophile feel that much more seen.
“Nothing makes me feel safer and more excited to play sports quite like being forced to spread my legs for an adult who’s in at least their 30s,” said 13-year-old soccer player Brittney Rigby. “I don’t know why anyone thought passage of this law might deter girls from playing sports at all. What kind of 7th grader isn’t excited to let an adult they don’t know get a good look at her privates? Pretty routine middle school physical stuff, I’ve heard.”
At press time, boys who play school sports were still sadly completely unsafe due to not being forced to show an adult their penises.
Reminder: The whole idea of “genital checks” can be traced back to the Epstein files.
I’m from the middle east , can some one explain ?
Washington State passed an initiative that forces all girls that want to play sports to prove that they’re cis-girls by either having a doctor penetrate their vaginas or pay for an expensive DNA test.
I love the needling lol
Like most transphobic things, it’s designed to hurt women as much as trans women. Misogyny is at the core of it.
also to control thier uterus, is the ultimate goal.
They probably think its genius. 2 birds 1 stone.
would having a pink uniformed sports team instead of a girls sport team bypass this?
You have been banned from c/Conservatives.
This was stupid AF on so many levels, including anyone who voted for it. The wording on the initiative was intentionally confusing, as was the millionaire tax initiative. Upon reading the voter guide, it became immediately clear what’s up.
I was surprised it even got far enough for a vote, much less that it passed.
Initiatives in Washington State are created by constituents. This will most likely be challenged and the courts will determine if the initiative can stand.
In 1912, Washington became one of the first states to adopt the initiative and referenda process, thus securing the rights of citizens to make and remake their laws, and to provide a check over the decisions of their Legislature.
Today, if Washingtonians are dissatisfied with certain laws or feel new laws are needed, they can petition to place proposed legislation on the ballot. The process is termed “Initiative” because the electorate can initiate legislation. The electorate can either place a proposition directly on the ballot or it can submit the proposed law to the Legislature at the regular legislative session allowing the elected representatives an opportunity to enact the proposed legislation themselves instead of placing the measure on the ballot.
A Referenda allows citizens, through the petition process, to refer acts of the Legislature to the ballot before they become law. The Referenda also permits the Legislature itself to refer proposed legislation to the electorate for approval or rejection.
The Initiative and Referenda processes guarantee Washington’s electorate the right to legislate. Sponsors of Initiative or Referenda measures must obtain a substantial number of petition signatures from registered voters in order to certify their measures to the ballot or to the Legislature.
Washington’s history has shown the Initiative and Referenda processes to be effective in protecting the people’s interests. In fact, many of our most significant laws, such as our public disclosure laws, were enacted by this process.
Thanks for this, I didn’t know that’s what they meant by “initiative”.
No worries! Each state is a little different and it can get real confusing real quick lol
I also appreciate your detailed response. I was just naturalized in 2025 so this is only my third time voting (municipal, midterms, and now federal), and I had never taken the time to look up what an initiative actually was or why it was on the ballot.
…you mean this isn’t the onion?
The Needling is Seattle’s version of The Onion :)
gross
Direct link to the quoted article: https://theneedling.com/2026/11/05/girls-finally-safe-now-that-they-have-to-show-adult-their-vagina-to-play-school-sports/
Oh shit, I grabbed the wrong link. Thanks!! I’ll update the post.
I had wondered why the original link was to a Reddit post, haha. Thanks for fixing!
My morbid curiousity is always pulling me to see what the local Redditors are chatting about on these topics lol
Needed another cup of coffee before I started posting though!!
Fucking red states, amirite?
What about intersex people?
Good point. This is the perfect opportunity to identify those people early on, for elimination from the bloodline.
“Thanks for the suggestion.” - Stephen “PeeWee Himmler” Miller
PeeWee Herman is too good to be compared to Stephen Miller :(
Fuck 'em.
–Republicans, probably.
He meant that rhetorically, stop unbuckling your belt, Mr. President.
Only if they are minors
I would have voted yes but I didn’t want to leave the boys out of the fun.
Honestly, I’m kind of hoping that the state supreme court rules it is a violation of title IX because it introduces unfair access restrictions to girls’ sports.
Boys already have to put their penis in a doctor’s face and turn the head and cough. So many hernia deaths avoided each year.
That’s not true anymore and, even if it were, that would mean we should reexamine that practice, not introduce another bad one.
They only do those checks if there are symptoms or risk these days.
A sign of relief? How is that something to get a relief from? Wow that’s almost comical.
Nobody’s gonna play sports if this messed up fuckery is the requirement.
Its a satire site
Oh thanks I’m so dumb.
I can’t seem to distinguish satire from reality nowadays
No worries, I get it too, its like they say about the onion, they will be going bankrupt because reality is more fucked up than what they can make up
When I was a kid, we had to get our penises touched by an adult to play sports, and that was just the physical we were required to have. I think I had to have another just to go to school in the first place, iirc. “Turn your head and cough” and whatnot. I’m surprised kids don’t have to have a physical anymore, tbh.
- Those were to check for hernias, not sex. 2. They don’t check all boys for hernias anymore, just when there’s symptoms or risk. 3. Examining girls to determine sex is incredibly more invasive. It requires penetration or DNA swab.
You cannot feel ovaries from the vagina. You can “see” ovaries through the vagina wall if you get a transvaginal ultrasound, but you cannot feel them by hand or with any tool. Ultrasound is the only way to confirm an ovary is present/where the ovary is. As to what any given doctor will consider “good enough” to determine their sex is up for debate, medical paperwork, visual inspection, physical inspection of the vulva… who knows the initiative was incredibly vague on this point because they wanted plausible deniability. That said I can promise you, no doctor anywhere is feeling anyone’s ovaries through their vaginal wall, it’s physically not possible.
It’s clearly a bill to harm the trans community outright and disenfranchise and traumatize little girls trying to play sports as a “bonus” it’s an outrageous and disgusting thing that will only and explicitly hurt kids and I’m ashamed of my state for passing it.
You can absolutely feel the ovaries through the lower abdomen, if the girl/woman is thin.
Source: used to be thin, have always kept up with doctors appointments. Not exactly thin now but still thin enough to be able to have ovaries located through palpation.
The rest of what you have to say is right.
Hm I’m probably wrong, I’ll amend my comment. I’ve certainly had doctors press my lower abdomen from the exterior while feeling from inside and tell me they were checking my ovaries, etc.
This person is wrong–you can feel ovaries via external palpation as long as there isn’t a significant fat pad in the area (I assume there are also less common reasons to be unable to feel them this way that I’m not familiar with as well since ever body is different).
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Sure, but surely it does both, if they had even thought of making it a requirement back then, so surely it would do both now.
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TIL, been a long time since I was a kid. Cool I guess, so at what age are kids required to drop trou at the doctor these days, never unless there’s a specific issue? Can they conceivably get all the way to ogbyn-age (idk what that would be) or 45 for a prostate exam?
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Surely it doesn’t “require” that, there has to be another way. (I’m assuming you mean they require it here, but I mean there’s gotta be another way in existence).
Not that they should, I’m just surprised to learn they don’t already do it (even if for other reasons) anymore.
- Sports physicals have never had determining sex as a goal. Hernia checks are not sex checks.
- Having male presenting genitalia is not a 100% accurate way of determining sex.
- Expensive DNA tests
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Re-read that, because evidentially you mistook it.
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What does that have to do with getting naked at the doctor for regular tests? I’m wondering what the current age for that is, since you seem to be aware, and I’m only aware of my childhood era’s practices.
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Well digital ovary manipulation and expensive tests doesn’t seem like an exhaustive list, but to be fair everything at the doctor is expensive, depending on country.
What regular tests are you undergoing that require being fully naked? Any child old enough to use the bathroom on their own can pee in a cup, why would anything else be required unless something is wrong/out of the ordinary?
Well back in the day it was hernias, apparently still to this day it’s after first menstruation for women which can be as young as 10-11 (according to someone here who knows how to answer questions instead of complain that people asked them… unlike some people…), so there’s one right there.
Here https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/physical-examination-adolescent-male
That’s why they USED to do it (apparently) and (according to one poster here) they don’t anymore, but that’s apparently “why,” straight from the President of Doctors Johns Hopkins himself. Hopefully that answers your questions.
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Regarding #2, the age to start seeing a gynecologist is after the first menstruation cycle or after first sexual activity or if there are worrying symptoms. So this can start as early as ten or eleven but is more commonly about fourteen or fifteen.
Why should a kid ever have to show a doctor their penis unless there is an issue? I’m 35 and have never shown a doctor my penis. Why is that something that either you or the doctor would want to do?
Well in case you haven’t been reading, back in the day they used to do it to EVERY SINGLE BOY CHILD and apparently they don’t now, I have come to learn, so that’s “why” I’m asking. Try and keep up!
I have been reading, which is why I know you haven’t seemed to approach this conversation with a desire to learn, more of an attitude of “we had to do it so who cares if they have to too”. Which I’m trying to point out, it was absurd that you had to do it, and it’s absurd to expect female children to undergo these inspections as well, that are very different from a gynecological exam performed by a trusted doctor in a medical office. Go ahead and take a look at how your comments were received and maybe do some introspection on the way that you come across.
that are very different from a gynecological exam performed by a trusted doctor in a medical office
Back in my day the physicals were also performed by a “trusted” (well I don’t trust doctors for shit, personally, but if you do then fine) doctor in a medical office as well. Are you telling me that isn’t the case here, that these kids are getting examined by Coach Dingus instead of being sent to Dr. Doofus for the exam? Because that would be very different indeed.
And frankly idk how absurd it was, kids can get tumors, I did have a hernia that they caught in one of those checks (I can only assume, I was too young for memories, but still), still have the scar. I’m sure they’ve figured out a better way through tech, maybe they did just stop caring, but I’ll never know because whatsyourname says I’m not allowed to ask such questions.
Go ahead and take a look at how your comments were received
+3 on the one above, as if I care. Quit living your life for the approval of internet strangers, the good boy points don’t even mean anything here, this isn’t reddit.
I don’t give a shit about votes, I never vote on comments. t’s not about the approval of strangers, it’s about not being a dick to your fellow humans. But go ahead, you do you.
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Look, I voted no on this, but I do find it a little confusing that basically everyone seems to have forgotten that boys already have to have a doctor touch their balls for a sports physical before they’re allowed to play sports. To be fair, it’s not for gender verification, but it’s still happening.
I’m not gonna pretend I have a good answer or alternate solution here but pretending like this isn’t already happening in youth sports doesn’t help anyone.
What does boys previously having had to be checked for hernias have to do with girls needing to have their genitals examined?
“We suffered so they should, too”?
No, this is not in any way a ‘happened to me so it’s ok to happen to you’ thing. Just to reiterate, I am a WA resident, I have a daughter, and I voted against this because I think it’s dumb at the best and at the very least poorly implemented.
But, just to keep things fair, genital examination is genital examination, regardless of purpose. The point here is that there is precedent for this in sports, which is how our entire system works. Anyone claiming it no longer occurs here is wrong, it’s still common practice and usually is only skipped if specifically requested. I don’t think this measure is a good idea but it’s not like it’s something that we’ve never done before.
But, just to keep things fair, genital examination is genital examination, regardless of purpose.
This is an insane take. The purpose is like the only thing that matters.
When it’s a question of whether a child has a hernia or not, that’s a health issue that you want to avoid in sports. I’m not a doctor so I’m not going to even try to defend that as I have no idea how necessary it is. But at least it has a patina of protecting children from further injury.
Being trans isn’t a health issue that needs to be checked before play.
The real point here is that having one’s genitals checked is a normal part of a physical exam, which most people get once a year. There is no need for the school to have some designated person go through some humiliating ritual to determine their genitalia, just get note from their regular doctor that they are clear to play sports in every way, and it’s over. It’s probably a good policy anyway, for heart issues, etc.
Have you seen the state of our healthcare system? Not every child has a regular doctor. Not every family can afford to get a DNA test or extra doctor’s visits.
Say a family finds a doctor for their daughter to get the note - how does a doctor that hasn’t seen the daughter before determine sex then?
Annual exams do not require getting naked for a doctor. External genitalia do not determine sex all the time. Ambiguous genitalia is a thing, intersex people exist, etc.
People move, lose insurance, all sorts of situations where they can’t keep the same doctor. What then?
Valid. The fact is, private equity has taken over children’s sports, and priced a lot of kids out because their families can’t afford it. Here’s one more expensive hoop to jump through.
Kids just want to play sports, so of course someone has to exploit that desire for money. “If you want it so bad, you’ll pay for it.”
Those checks are for hernias, not determining sex, and they no longer perform those hernia checks on all boys. They only do it if there’s a risk or symptoms.
I’m aware that it is/was for checking for hernias, which is why I specifically stated that it is not for determination of sex, although I will admit I used gender incorrectly there.
But, just to fairly counter this, while it is technically not required here in the state anymore it is still common practice for sports physicals and is usually still done unless specifically requested otherwise.
I’ve already replied in another comment with my other points so I won’t reiterate them here, but I will point out again that I’m not advocating for this, I’m in opposition of it and voted as such. However, pretending other viewpoints on this issue don’t exist or are entirely invalid is why people are failing to understand why a state like Washington would vote rather overwhelmingly for this at all
I’m not pretending other viewpoints don’t exist. I believe those viewpoints are rooted in bigotry and fear of the unknown.
Acting like people don’t “understand” imo is just transphobia. Your state shouldn’t have voted for bigotry. This shows cis people have failed their end of the social contract.
No more blaming trans people for transphobia period.
Edit: Because I wanted to make the message simpler.
Cis people harm trans people.
It’s not that they don’t get it, or don’t understand, or don’t know about it, the reason so much harmful legislation passes marginalizing trans people is because of the oppression by cisgender people.
