Drafter
Clerk 09/10/2026
Title
A MOTION supporting King County's LGBTQIA2+ community and opposing Washington state ballot initiative IL26-001.
Body
WHEREAS, Initiative IL26-001 will be considered by voters in the state of Washington during the November 2026 general election, and
WHEREAS, IL26-001 would remove school record protections concerning victims of child abuse, and
WHEREAS, IL26-001 could discourage students experiencing domestic violence, sexual abuse, or bullying from seeking help from trusted school counselors if they believe that doing so could result in disclosure of confidential information, and
WHEREAS, requiring teachers and school counselors to disclose information about a student's LGBTQIA2+ identity could place some students at risk of family rejection, violence, or homelessness, and
WHEREAS, Washington state ballot initiative IL26-001 is opposed by organizations representing nurses, doctors, teachers, school counselors, and domestic violence prevention experts, including the American Federation of Teachers Washington, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Northwest Education Access, the Coalition Ending Gender-Based Violence, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Asian Counseling & Referral Services, the Washington Education Association, the Washington State Nurses Association, Service Employees International Union Local 775, Service Employees International Union 925, Service Employees International Union Healthcare Committee of Interns and Residents, and the Washington State Labor Council, and over one hundred individual doctors and other medical providers, and
WHEREAS, multiple studies have shown the harmful effects of family rejection on LGBTQIA2+ youth, including high rates of depression, abuse, and homelessness, and a study by the Williams Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, named "Serving Our Youth" found that over half of surveyed service providers reported that the primary reason LGBTQIA2+ homeless youth were kicked out of their homes was because of their identities, and
WHEREAS, preventing youth homelessness is an important priority for King County, and
WHEREAS, RCW 29B.45.010 authorizes the King County council to take action to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order, or ordinance, or to support or oppose a ballot measure so long as (a) any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition, and (b) members of the legislative body, members of the board, council, or commission of the special purpose district, or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view, and
WHEREAS, consistent with RCW 29B.45.010, the King County council considered Initiative IL26-001 at its September 22, 2026, regular meeting, and provided members of the public and council an approximately equal opportunity to express support or opposition to Initiative IL26-001.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The council reaffirms its commitment to our LGBTQIA2+ residents by opposing ballot initiative IL26-001.