UPDATE: May 6, 2025 at 8:45
Following 90 minutes of spirited and emotional public testimony at tonight’s Richland City Council meeting, Mayor Theresa Richardson and three other council members have voted to sign the letter. Three other council members opposed.
BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – Benton County is asking city and county leaders in Southeast Washington to sign a letter that highlights concerns over biological males in women’s sports.
The letter references Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, as a critical factor in the success of women’s sports over the past 50 years.
World Athletics and the NCAA have recently revised their policies.
On March 25, 2025, World Athletics reinstated chromosome testing to ensure integrity in female sports.
The NCAA clarified its stance on February 6, 2025, stating, “A student-athlete assigned male at birth may not compete on a women’s team.”
The letter urges southeastern Washington representatives to align with these organizations and protect the competitive integrity of girls’ sports.
If the Richland City Council approves this request during its May 6 meeting, Mayor Theresa Richardson will likely sign the letter.
Others asked to sign the letter include Kennewick Mayor Gretl Crawford, Pasco Mayor Pete Serrano, West Richland Mayor Brent Gerry, Benton County Chairman Jerome Delvin and Franklin County Chairman Rocky Mullen.
