CAMAS, Wash. — October 25, 2026. A protest by members of the Camas High School girls' cross-country team has become a closely watched dispute over school athletics in Washington state. Several runners refused to compete alongside a transgender girl, and subsequent demonstrations by supporters and opponents of the current eligibility rules drew attention from local media, elected officials, and community organizations.
The controversy began at an October 13 cross-country meet, when approximately half of the 24 members of the Camas girls' team declined to compete. Rather than participate in the race alongside their transgender teammate, the runners withdrew in protest of her eligibility to compete in the girls' division.
Video of the incident quickly circulated on social media. What began as a disagreement within one school athletic program soon became part of a broader debate over eligibility rules for girls' sports.
The dispute intensified on October 21 during the Greater St. Helens League district championships, when two groups of demonstrators with opposing views gathered in Camas. One group called for changes to eligibility requirements in girls' athletics, while the other expressed support for the transgender athlete and existing nondiscrimination protections.
According to The Columbian's Camas-Washougal Post-Record, organizers had moved the competition to the UL Campus in anticipation of demonstrations. School security personnel, Camas police officers, and Clark County sheriff's deputies were present. At least one physical confrontation occurred during the protests.
Why the Runners Refused to Compete
The dispute centers on a transgender student at Camas High School who competed in boys' cross-country events earlier in the season before moving to the girls' division.
According to reporting carried by The Spokesman-Review, the athlete began competing in girls' races in September. The change prompted objections from some runners and parents who believe the current rules do not provide fair competitive conditions for all girls.
At the October 13 meet, approximately 12 Camas runners refused to participate alongside the transgender athlete.
One of the protesting runners, Holly Burns, later publicly explained that her decision was motivated by concerns about fairness in athletic competition.
The dispute subsequently extended beyond Camas High School.
During the October 21 championships, Battle Ground High School runner Elise Bierer also declined to compete in the girls' race. Her decision ended her opportunity to advance to the regional championship.
In an interview with FOX 12 Oregon, Bierer described struggling with the choice between competing and publicly expressing her position. She ultimately decided not to race.
Her mother, Sheona Bierer, said she viewed the issue primarily as a question of fair competition rather than personal opposition to transgender people.
Supporters of changing the rules have also invoked Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs.
However, citing Title IX does not resolve the legal dispute over how federal and state requirements should apply to transgender students participating in school athletics.
What Supporters of the Current Rules Say
Participation by transgender students in Washington school sports is governed by policies established by the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA).
The existing policy allows students to participate in athletic categories consistent with their gender identity.
These provisions have been part of Washington school athletics for years. The Camas School District has emphasized its responsibility to comply with applicable laws and athletic association rules while protecting the safety and dignity of all students.
According to reporting by KNKX, district officials have also emphasized that schools cannot disclose private information about minors and must protect students from harassment.
Supporters of the existing rules argue that excluding transgender girls from girls' athletic teams could result in discrimination and social isolation.
During the demonstrations in Camas, local resident Karen Wood called for a more respectful discussion of the issue. Speaking with FOX 12, she acknowledged the complexity of questions surrounding competitive fairness while emphasizing the importance of supporting students and avoiding personal attacks.
The controversy therefore involves two distinct but overlapping concerns: the conditions under which school sports competitions are conducted and the rights and safety of students.
How a School Dispute Became Part of an Election Campaign
The confrontation in Camas comes less than two weeks before Washington's November 3 election, when voters are scheduled to consider Initiative 638.
The proposal would change eligibility requirements for school athletic competitions divided by sex.
According to the official text of Initiative IL26-638, participation in girls' athletic categories would be determined by biological sex rather than gender identity. The proposal also includes provisions for using medical documentation to establish eligibility.
Supporters of the initiative argue that the changes are necessary to preserve fair competition and athletic opportunities for girls.
Opponents contend that the restrictions would exclude transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity and increase discrimination against a small population of students.
Events in Camas have become part of the public debate surrounding the initiative. Some protesting runners have appeared at events supporting changes to eligibility rules, while organizations opposed to those changes have held demonstrations of their own.
As a result, a disagreement that began within a school athletic program has taken on a broader political dimension.
How Common Is Transgender Participation in School Sports?
An important part of the debate is the scale of transgender participation in Washington school athletics.
According to information attributed to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, the organization is aware of approximately 10 or fewer transgender athletes participating in school sports statewide each year.
However, schools are not required to report every such case to the WIAA. The estimate therefore does not represent a complete statewide count.
Even a relatively small number of participants can raise difficult questions for individual teams, competitive divisions, and sporting events.
Evaluating the potential impact of policy changes requires distinguishing statewide participation estimates from individual circumstances and the eligibility requirements of particular sports.
Additional Allegations and the School District's Response
The controversy has also been accompanied by allegations concerning student conduct during an out-of-town competition.
Clark County Today published accounts from parents alleging violations of personal boundaries during a team trip to Arlington on October 9–10.
Those allegations should not be treated as established facts.
The outlet reported that school administrators referred complaints to law enforcement personnel associated with the district. According to information attributed to Camas police, investigators did not identify evidence of a crime in the circumstances they reviewed.
The school district also corrected an earlier report suggesting that the transgender athlete had shared a hotel room with another member of the team. According to the district's clarification, the student stayed with a family member.
That distinction matters. Questions involving alleged misconduct, school policies, privacy, and athletic eligibility require separate assessments. The existence of a complaint does not establish wrongdoing by any particular student.
What Happens Next?
As of publication, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association's existing eligibility rules remain in effect, and the November 3 election has not yet taken place.
Initiative 638 could change the legal framework for participation in school athletics if approved by voters. Until any changes take effect, schools remain responsible for following current rules.
The dispute in Camas has already extended well beyond a single cross-country team. It has involved students, parents, school administrators, athletic organizations, and community members, illustrating how difficult it can be to reconcile competing views of fairness, equal opportunity, and inclusion.
At the center of the controversy, however, are minors. Their safety, education, and privacy deserve protection regardless of the political arguments surrounding the issue.
The question now extends beyond which eligibility rules will apply after the election. It also concerns whether school communities can address deeply contested issues without harassment, threats, or personal attacks directed at young people.
Roman Tretiakov, WE PNW
