For Democrats, this week’s midterm elections went nearly as well as they could have hoped. The party has gained at least seven seats in the Senate and 29 in the House of Representatives, securing full Congressional control for Democrats. Some conservative strongholds even flipped blue, including Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina.
The election also marked a number of groundbreaking firsts for the country, including the first Black woman to serve as governor, the first openly gay man elected to the Senate, and the first Muslim elected to the Senate.
But the so-called “blue tsunami” doesn’t mean liberal policies won out everywhere, even in places where Democrats gained or maintained control. Four states passed or are close to passing ballot initiatives to restrict the rights of transgender children, including three that voted blue in this election.
States’ anti-trans initiatives
So far, two ballot initiatives restricting the rights of trans student athletes have already passed. That includes Nebraska’s Initiative 442, which amends the state’s constitution to require that schools designate sports teams as male, female, or coeducational based on “biological sex,” also banning “students of the male sex” from playing on girls’ teams. The measure passed with 68% approval.
Also already passed is Arizona’s Proposition 318, which similarly requires schools to designate teams by gender and prohibit any students assigned male at birth from playing on girls’ teams. Unlike Nebraska, Arizona was solidly blue in this election, with Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs winning reelection.
The other states with initiatives about trans athletes on their ballots include Colorado and Washington, both of which have Democratic governors and two Democratic senators.
In Colorado, two ballot initiatives centered on trans children. Proposition 134 would follow Arizona and Nebraska’s lead in requiring athletes to play on teams matching their sex assigned at birth, while Proposition 135 would prohibit gender-affirming surgery for minors.
Washington’s Initiative 638 is perhaps the most controversial of all these measures. Beyond banning students from playing on sports teams not matching their sex assigned at birth, the initiative would also require that all players on girls’ teams provide a statement from a medical provider verifying their sex, potentially through genital exams.
Colorado and Washington’s measures are still too close to call, but reports show they are currently on track for approval.
LGBTQ+ social media reacts
Amid online celebration in the wake of the blue tsunami, the success of these anti-trans measures has spoiled for some what would otherwise be a resounding political victory.
“I don’t feel like ‘libbing out,’” reads one viral post sharing a graphic of the initiatives’ early results. It’s garnered more than 243,000 views on X.
“Yes, there is a blue wave. but the amount of transphobic initiatives are passing, even in deep blue states, is very very concerning,” wrote another user.
Others agreed that the measures’ success in Democratic strongholds was especially troublesome: “‘Blue wave’ but trans people aren’t even safe in Denver, Colorado,” reads one response to the news.
“Blue wave is great but please don’t leave trans women and girls behind while you celebrate,” asked a fourth user. “Trans girl’s rights were successfully taken away yesterday in several states, they’re still here and deserve to be fought for.”
