A court has dismissed our lawsuit challenging Initiative 2081: a deceptive and harmful law that threatened 2SLGBTQIA+ youth, homeless youth, youth of color, and students from other marginalized backgrounds — as well as their access to confidential health care and inclusive education.
I-2081 was created in 2023 by Let’s Go Washington, a political action committee financed by conservative megadonor Brian Heywood. The organization is known for advancing dangerous ballot initiatives that wouldn’t likely survive the normal legislative process.
When the initiative eventually passed in 2024, we challenged it in court alongside QLaw Foundation of Washington and the ACLU of Washington. Together, we secured a partial pause on the law that lasted for six months. Soon after the pause ended, the Legislature passed a students’ rights bill to provide more permanent relief. Because of this legislative fix, our case was dismissed last month.
We are incredibly grateful for the community support that allowed us to see this case through to the end. Thanks to you, 1.1 million students were protected while they waited for lawmakers to enact a solution to I-2081.
Now, we need to defend the progress that we’ve made. Earlier this year, the authors of I-2081 introduced IL26-001: a nearly identical initiative that would undo last year’s students’ rights bill.
If passed, the initiative would have two main effects:
1. It would strip away youth privacy rights. Confidential counseling and health care services at school would be limited, and many youth would not feel safe talking with staff about their sexuality, gender identity, or reproductive health.
2. It would stifle classroom conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. Under the initiative, school staff would have to notify parents any time they ask about “family beliefs, morality, religion, or political affiliations.”
Lawmakers have signaled that they will not vote on IL26-001, which means the initiative will likely appear on your ballot in November. If it passes via popular vote, the Legislature cannot implement another fix for two years. It’s essential that we prepare to stop this initiative.
To learn more about how to get involved, visit the No Hate in Washington State website: nohateinwastate.org
