Require All Schools and Athletic Associations to Restrict Sports Participation and Access to Private Spaces Based on Sex Measure
Athletics & LGBTQ Issues
Summarized
What Would This Do?
Proposition 318 would prohibit schools and athletic associations from authorizing a student, athlete, employee, or other individual to use a restroom, locker room, shower room, or other private space that is not designated for their sex. It defines "sex" as an individual's "biological status as male or female as recorded at birth on the individual's original birth certificate."
It would require private schools, public schools, and athletic associations — not just public schools, as current law requires — to designate every athletic team as male, female, or coed/mixed based on sex, and would remove the current provision allowing female students to join a team designated for males. It would also authorize athletes to sue schools and athletic associations that knowingly violate the law.
Current Arizona law already prohibits male students from joining a team designated for girls or females, but only applies that rule to public schools (and private schools competing against them), and has no restriction on restroom or locker-room use based on sex.
A “Yes” Vote
A "yes" vote supports requiring all schools and athletic associations to designate sports teams as male, female, or coed based on sex assigned at birth, prohibiting use of private spaces not designated for one's sex, and removing the exception allowing females onto male-designated teams.
A “No” Vote
A "no" vote opposes this law, maintaining the existing statute, which applies the team-designation rule only to public schools, allows females to join male-designated teams, and has no restriction on restroom, locker-room, or shower facility use based on sex.
Official Language
Full Legal Text
Ballot Title & Summary (as filed with the Secretary of State)
Ballot Title
PROPOSITION 318 — REFERRED TO THE PEOPLE BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO STUDENT ATHLETICS. OFFICIAL TITLE: AMENDING SECTION 15-120.02, ARIZONA REVISED STATUTES. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: REQUIRES ALL SCHOOLS AND ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONS TO DESIGNATE ATHLETIC TEAMS AS MALE, FEMALE, OR COED BASED ON THE BIOLOGICAL SEX OF THE ATHLETES AS DEFINED AT BIRTH; PROHIBITS THESE ENTITIES FROM AUTHORIZING USE OF PRIVATE SPACES NOT DESIGNATED FOR A PERSON'S SEX.
Ballot Summary
A "yes" vote shall have the effect of: (1) requiring private schools, public schools, and athletic associations to designate every athletic team as male, female, or coed/mixed based on sex and to prevent males from joining female teams — existing law imposes this requirement only on public schools and those competing against them; (2) prohibiting schools and athletic associations from authorizing anyone to use private spaces (such as restrooms) not designated for that individual's sex; (3) defining "sex" as an individual's biological status as male or female as recorded at birth on an original birth certificate; and (4) authorizing athletes to sue schools and athletic associations that knowingly violate this law. A "no" vote shall have the effect of maintaining the current laws relating to student athletics.
Support
Officials
U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R) · State Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R) · State Sen. Warren Petersen (R) · State Rep. Selina Bliss (R) · State Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R) · State Rep. Steve Montenegro (R) · Mayor of Chandler Kevin Hartke (R) · Superintendent of Public Instruction Thomas C. Horne (R)
Organizations
Arizona Women of Action · Center for Arizona Policy · Liberty Counsel Action
“Women's sports were created because biological differences matter. When those differences are ignored, girls lose roster spots, scholarships, and opportunities they earned. HCR 2003 gives voters the chance to protect female athletes and establish clear, durable rules for schools.”
“My experiences shaped my belief in protecting fair competition for girls. ... Girls deserve dedicated teams where they can train, grow, and succeed on a level playing field.”
“The newspapers have been full of stories about girls who work really hard on their sports skills to make a team or perhaps get a college scholarship or compete for the Olympics. Then they have to compete against a biological male who has unfair advantages and they are totally devastated.”
Opposition
Officials
State Sen. Denise Epstein (D)
Candidates
Candidate for U.S. House JoAnna Mendoza (D)
Unions
Arizona Education Association
Organizations
ACLU of Arizona · Arizona Coalition for Working Families · Arizona Students Association · Ballot Initiative Strategy Center · Children's Action Alliance · Civic Engagement Beyond Voting · Equality Arizona Action · Healthcare Rising Arizona · LD3 Democrats Northeastern Maricopa County · League of Women Voters of Arizona · Lutheran Advocacy Ministry Arizona · Mi Familia Vota · Rural Arizona Action · Save Our Schools Arizona · Stonewall Democrats of Arizona · Will of the People
“Trans youth deserve the same opportunities, experiences, rights, and protections as every other student. ... Schools should be places where kids and teens feel safe to learn, grow, and develop a sense of community.”
“When the U.S. passed Title IX, we made a promise to all women and girls that their contributions to sports were equal and would forever be treated as such. Proposition 318 would betray that promise, harming all women and girls in an effort to score political points by discriminating against trans girls.”
“As a mom, I know that parents just want to protect their kids — on the playing fields and across Arizona. Rules about keeping sports fair and safe for young people should be made by the people who know the most — parents, coaches, and sports associations — not politicians.”
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