Amy Sousa is organizing a rally in Camas, Washington, to support the Camas High School girls' cross country team members who walked off course on Oct. 13. The event, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 2 p.m. at 2600 NW Lake Road, aims to shift the burden of advocacy from students to adults.
The rally, named "Camas Courage," follows a protest in which about a dozen runners declined to compete against a transgender athlete who had started the season in the boys' division. Sousa, who attended and filmed the earlier protest, stated that she wants the rally to demonstrate adult support and pressure for changes to eligibility rules. She urged adults to take the reins so that students do not have to become activists.
Sousa, a prominent organizer during the WNBA season for rallies supporting Sophie Cunningham's opposition to males competing in girls' sports, expects participation from Republican state Sen. John Braun, members of Women’s Declaration International USA and Women’s Liberation Front, and local parents and students. She said she is notifying authorities of the event and intends to hold it before the meet begins to minimize disruption to the competition.
The rally addresses a conflict between local school officials and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA). School officials have stated they are following existing rules, while the WIAA asserts that its gender-identity participation policy complies with state law. The association said it cannot implement proposed restrictions that would violate that law.
Sousa is also using the rally to build support for Initiative 638, a measure Washington voters will consider on Nov. 3. The proposal seeks to block male students from participating in specific female athletic events and mandates that a medical professional confirm biological sex. Advocates argue this safeguards competitive fairness for girls, while critics warn it would disqualify transgender girls and create additional medical and privacy hurdles for female athletes.
Sousa directed her criticism at the adults responsible for current policies rather than the athletes involved. She stated that it is not the fault of the transgender runner that the situation has occurred, emphasizing the need to do better for daughters. She said she would welcome conversation with those who disagree with her position.