That's not true anymore and, even if it were, that would mean we should reexamine that practice, not introduce another bad one.

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"?

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.

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).

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.

1. Re-read that, because evidentially you mistook it.

2. 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.

3. 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.

They probably think its genius. 2 birds 1 stone.

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.

1. Sports physicals have never had determining sex as a goal. Hernia checks are not sex checks.
2. Having male presenting genitalia is not a 100% accurate way of determining sex.
3. Expensive DNA tests

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.

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.

The Needling is Seattle’s version of The Onion :)

1. 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.

2. 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?

3. 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.

...you mean this isn't the onion?

Like most transphobic things, it's designed to hurt women as much as trans women. Misogyny is at the core of it.

Fuck 'em.

–Republicans, probably.

No worries! Each state is a little different and it can get real confusing real quick lol

Thanks for this, I didn’t know that’s what they meant by “initiative”.

What about intersex people?

1. 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.

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.

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.

I was surprised it even got far enough for a vote, much less that it passed.

They only do those checks if there are symptoms or risk these days.

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.