By JAMIE PEDERSEN and LAURIE JINKINS (text as submitted, 2/28/2024)
Our state has a strong populist history; our constitution gives Washingtonians the ability to send initiatives to the legislature or to the ballot. This year, a conservative California hedge fund multi-millionaire used that process, spending over $6 million to qualify six initiatives to the Legislature.
Once the initiatives were introduced, we did what our constituents expect us to do with any bill before the legislature, asking questions about implementation, constitutionality, impact on the state budget, and impact on communities across the state.
As these questions were answered it became clear that three of the initiatives would cause devastating and deeply felt cuts in areas we’ve heard about most from our constituents. Initiative 2109 would drastically reduce funding for childcare, early learning, and K-12 education. Initiative 2117 would cause further strain on our transportation budget, eliminating some projects and expanding timelines on others, all while increasing carbon emissions. Initiative 2124 would chip away at Washingtonians’ ability to retire with dignity, forcing people to spend down entire savings or retirement before getting help with long-term care.
These changes are drastic departures from the path we’re currently on, a path we’ve set by responding to the needs of our constituents. They will go straight to the ballot for voters to decide.
Of the remaining three, one would prohibit an income tax – a prohibition already in our state’s constitution. Another would repeal some limitations on police pursuits, a topic the legislature has already been working to find a balance on. Finally, one would affirm existing parental rights. Some language in this initiative raised concerns for the LGBTQ+ community across Washington state.
Initiative 2081 is intended to protect parents’ rights to know what their children are learning in school, obtain student records, and receive written notice allowing them to opt their kids out of some classroom activities. About 90 percent of the initiative is already common practice or state law.
Parents can examine textbooks, curriculum, and disciplinary records and opt their children out of sexual health education. School districts typically post school calendars well in advance.
The initiative does include some ambiguous language about health care records and decision-making, raising questions for teachers and parents. A public hearing this week clarified how the initiative interacts with existing legal protections for health care records and decision-making.
Does it amend adolescent access to healthcare treatment? No.
Does it amend student privacy protections for health care records? No.
Does it amend youth access to home and shelter support? No.
With these and other questions answered, we believe the initiative does not pose a threat to our LGBTQ+ youth. We will work closely with the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education to ensure students are protected and the initiative is implemented correctly.
However, we stand prepared to change the law should it put ANY member of the LGBTQ+ community at risk or threaten in any way a young person’s right to protected health care.
We are proud of the hard-fought protections for the LGBTQ+ community that we’ve passed into law, including marriage equality, anti- trans discrimination protections, anti-bullying laws, and a ban on conversion therapy.
That work continues this year, as we consider legislation that protects our schools and libraries, ensuring a small minority of people cannot remove books simply for including LGBTQ+ representation.
We also know building connections to the history of the LGBTQ+ community will help the students of today see themselves in their curriculum, and will help all students better understand the world we live in. LGBTQ+ history is Washington history; we’re moving legislation to help affirm that in age-appropriate and contextualized ways.
These efforts are vital and lifesaving.
Across the country, we’ve seen disgusting attacks against LGBTQ+ kids, and we are relieved that a correct implementation of Initiative 2081 does not remove existing Washington protections.
We will continue to fight for and defend our state’s values, including strong legal protections for all our kids.
Jamie Pedersen is the majority floor leader in the Washington state senate and represents the 43rd district (central Seattle). Laurie Jinkins is the Speaker of the Washington state House of Representatives and represents the 27th district (Tacoma). Both are parents and members of the legislature’s LGBTQ+ caucus.