Hundreds Rally in Tumwater for Parental Rights and Sports Equity

A crowd of approximately 250 individuals gathered at the Michael T. Simmons Elementary School in Tumwater, Washington, on Saturday to support the Let’s Go Washington (LGW) initiative. The event, which included a significant police presence due to reported threats, focused on collecting signatures for two controversial initiatives aimed at altering educational and athletic policies within the state.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had alerted LGW on Friday about potential violent actions from groups affiliated with Antifa, raising concerns for the safety of the rally participants. LGW advocates for two primary initiatives: one that seeks to restore parental rights in education and another that aims to prevent transgender athletes from competing in sports divisions not aligned with their biological sex.

Opposition to these initiatives has emerged from organizations such as the Washington Education Association and Washington Families for Freedom, which argue they undermine children’s protection and privacy rights.

At the rally, attendees were encouraged to sign initiative petitions and take additional sheets to gather more signatures, with the submission deadline approaching in a week. Both measures are falling short of the required signatures to qualify for the November 2026 ballot, and LGW emphasized the urgency of their campaign.

Voices for Change

Several speakers addressed the crowd, including Rep. Travis Couture of Allyn, who emphasized the need to protect women and girls. He stated, “A society that doesn’t protect and defend its women, its daughters and wives, is a society that has lost its moral compass.”

Yelm School Board member Ryan Jewell, echoed Couture’s sentiments, explaining his decision to run for the school board stemmed from witnessing the erosion of parental rights and the lack of protection for girls in sports. “It’s time for conservative voters to show up in large numbers,” Jewell urged, prompting enthusiastic applause from the audience.

The rally also featured young female athletes who shared their personal experiences competing against transgender athletes. Frances Staudt, a sophomore at Tumwater High School, recounted her frustration about having to sit out a basketball game due to competing against an 18-year-old biological male. Staudt expressed her dismay at facing scrutiny from school authorities after voicing her concerns, stating, “I was investigated by WIAA [Washington Interscholastic Activities Association] and the Tumwater School District for harassment and bullying.”

Another speaker, Annaleigh Wilson from East Wenatchee, shared her emotional journey after losing a race at the Junior Olympics to a transgender athlete. She recounted the backlash she faced for speaking out against the situation, noting that she has been labeled as hateful and responsible for the well-being of transgender individuals. “Do you know what it’s like to carry that weight at 16? No one should ever have to go through this,” she said tearfully, prompting shouts of support from the crowd.

Call to Action

Both Staudt and Wilson issued a direct appeal to Governor Bob Ferguson and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, urging them to listen to the voices of female athletes. “You have stood up for the transgender athletes, but you have not stood up for us. We matter, too,” Wilson declared.

As of the most recent count, LGW has collected 315,979 signatures for the initiative aimed at protecting girls in sports and 298,571 signatures for the parental rights initiative. To qualify for the ballot, each measure requires approximately 309,000 valid signatures by 17:00 on January 2, 2026, based on participation rates from the last general election.

The rally not only highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding educational and sports policies in Washington but also demonstrated the fervent commitment of many to advocate for their beliefs in a climate of tension and opposition.