By Suzanne Bowdey

With the exception of elected Democrats, it’s tough to find anyone in the world who thinks men competing in girls’ sports is a good idea. And that club of extremists got even smaller on Thursday when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) followed through on their new president’s promise to end this radical experiment and limit female events to biological women. “At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat,” IOC chief Kirsty Coventry insisted in the announcement. “So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category.”

A two-time Olympic swimming champion from Zimbabwe, Coventry had signaled her support for a strict policy shortly after she assumed the new job, making it clear, even then, that “the overarching principle must be to protect the female category.” But first, she explained, the committee would take a good, hard look at the science so her team could make the most informed decision possible.

“We know that this topic is sensitive,” Coventry admitted in a press event before acknowledging that this had been a “priority for me way before President Trump came into his second term.” Of course, the White House’s executive order on the upcoming Los Angeles Games in 2028 and its general policy of protecting girls’ sports did help to create the momentum the IOC needed to finish the job Coventry began with her review.

The administration celebrated the move, applauding the IOC’s decision as “common sense and long-overdue.” Politically, the timing of the decision is especially interesting considering the state of the U.S. Senate, where every last Democrat voted against an amendment to bring this same sanity to American sports. For Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the optics of his party’s lunacy are especially harsh, considering that this month was the fourth time his caucus rejected protections that 80% of voters — including 67% of the Democrats’ own base — embrace.

Schumer and company should already feel the squeeze of their unpopular obsession with transgenderism. But if they don’t, this November will hopefully provide another teachable moment — not in the midterms, although their social extremism will almost certainly factor — but in blue-state ballot initiatives.

While an impressive number of U.S. states — 29 — have laws or some form of regulation protecting girls’ sports on the books, another three are teeing up the question for voters this fall in states where leftism reigns: Colorado, Maine, and Washington. In a country where this has become an overwhelming area of consensus, it’ll be interesting to see just how alone the Democrats are in their activism.

Colorado’s Initiative 109

Like a lot of these states, parents like Erin Lee took matters into their own hands when the state’s Democrats killed the effort to have a serious debate about a girls’ sports bill two years ago, despite what the leader of Protect Kids Colorado called “overwhelming turnout” in favor of it. “That’s why we took it [over],” Erin Lee explained to The Washington Times. “People obviously want this, and we’re hearing from so many people who are affected by this, but they’re afraid to speak up, and they don’t know what to do about it.”

Under Initiative 109, the associations that govern both college and K-12 sports would have to designate teams as male, female, or coed. The teams for girls or women would only allow biological females. Interestingly, the Trump administration has already been involved in Colorado’s debate after its Department of Education’s Civil Rights Division uncovered the fact that “male students [occupied] up to 61 roster positions on girls’ sports teams” in a single district —in violation of Title IX. Lee and others hope the November ballot initiative will finally bring nightmares like this to an end. “I think [the initiatives] are all going to pass, and I’m sad that as a former Democrat that this is the hill they’ve chosen to die on,” she said. “The party of civil rights is now the party of erasing women. I hope it’s a wake-up call.”

Maine’s Protect Girls Sports Initiative

In Maine, while the voter referendum cleared the hurdles to make it onto the November ballot, there’s still a slim chance the state legislature could do the right thing and pass the bill before adjourning April 15. “Nobody is holding his or her breath,” Valerie Richardson notes. “Like Colorado and Washington, Maine has a Democratic trifecta, meaning the governor’s office and both legislative houses are controlled by Democrats.” As a Protect Girls’ Sports in Maine spokesperson told Richardson, “While we hope the Legislature acts and signs this into law, we do anticipate this going to the November election.”

Like Colorado, male students who identify as transgender would have the option of joining male or coed teams, but not female rosters. They also wouldn’t be allowed into girls’ restrooms, locker rooms, or showers, regardless of what they claim to be.

Leyland Streiff, who heads up Protect Girls Sports in Maine, embraces the idea of letting voters decide. “[We] will get to do what the [Maine Principals Association] and state legislature have failed to do. … And [we’ll] get to do it through the most democratic process possible — a simple majority vote will designate competitive sports and private facilities in our schools by sex,” he said. “This is inclusive, fair and safe — everyone gets to play sports; not one single person is banned.”

Frustrated with the leftists driving the state, Streiff reiterated that Maine’s leadership is “out of touch with what voters want.” “Maine is far too progressive to allow sex-based discrimination to continue,” he argued. “If a female wants a female-only space or opportunity, she must be afforded that under the law. Anything else is discrimination, and frankly regressive.”

The Trump administration also had a very public spat with Maine Governor Janet Mills (D), who openly defied the president’s order to protect girls. In a show of rebellion, Mills refused to comply — triggering a lawsuit from the DOE that would threaten the state’s federal dollars. While Mills argued that “this is not just about who can compete on the athletic field, this is about whether a president can force compliance with his will,” the voters’ will is something she can’t fight.

Washington’s IL26-638

In what supporters hope is a sign of things to come, the Evergreen State shattered the signature threshold they needed to put girls’ sports on the ballot — collecting an eye-popping 445,187 names in a state that’s anything but conservative. “To all the young women who stood up and spoke out about biological boys taking your places on your teams and invading your safe spaces: thank you. Thank you for your bravery in the face of harassment, bullying, attacks, and threats of lawsuits,” Brian Heywood, the founder of Let’s Go Washington, said.

Like the other two legislatures, Washington refused to adopt the proposal before adjourning a couple of weeks ago. In fact, Democrats openly refused to consider the idea, batting down the push for public hearings. After being shut out of the process, Let’s Go Washington has been rallying across the state to “give voice to people, including other coaches, who feel they cannot speak,” Dori Whitford says. “Am I disappointed that there wasn’t more representation of views? Yes. I don’t understand why.”

In a twist from the other two ballot initiatives, Washington’s would rely on a doctor or medical professional to declare a student’s sex after a physical exam. And Heywood is incredibly confident that locals will approve. “No matter how hard Speaker [Laurie] Jinkins and Senator [Jamie] Pedersen work to suppress voters, we’ll be here, pushing right back. Sorry to disappoint. … We’ll see you on the ballot.”

Whatever happens in November, at least voters will finally have a say in a process that Democrats have all but sabotaged. Doreen Denny, senior advisor to Concerned Women for America, agrees. “The success of these grassroots movements is a testament to the energy of citizens to take their case directly to the people. It exposes the radicalism that has overruled common sense in states denying girls their basic rights to safety and fairness in sports,” she emphasized to The Washington Stand.

“Having these measures on the ballot is a hopeful sign that the will of the people can prevail in liberal states ruled by trans activism,” Denny underscored. “If polls are any indicator, these measures should pass with the flying colors of the American flag reflecting the unity of the American people on this issue.”

Suzanne Bowdey serves as editorial director and senior writer at The Washington Stand.

This article originally appeared here.