A pair of school board officials in deep blue Washington State are fighting back as the state’s education chief remains committed to defying President Donald Trump’s executive order barring transgender athletes from women’s sports.
“It’s an absolute joke,” Kennewick School Board Vice President Micah Valentine said Monday on “Fox & Friends First.”
“He has been promoting his radical leftist ideology since we’ve been on the board…. Grades are dropping under his watch. Meanwhile, he’s promoting LGBTQIA+ things…”
STATE EDUCATION CHIEF SAYS IT’S ‘INACCURATE’ TO SAY THERE ARE ONLY TWO GENDERS, IN DEFENSE OF TRANS ATHLETES
Kennewick School Board President Gabe Galbraith and Vice President Micah Valentine criticized state guidance on President Donald Trump’s executive order barring biological males from participating in girls’ sports. (Fox & Friends First/Screengrab)
The Kennewick School Board filed a Title IX complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights against Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal last week, seeking federal intervention over the state’s refusal to comply with Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.
Reykdal defended transgender athletes in girls’ sports in an address last month, claiming it was “inaccurate” to say “biologically” there are only two genders.
“There’s a continuum. There’s a science to this. There are children who are born intersex. There are children whose hormones and whose chromosomes are not consistent with their sex at birth,” he said.
SCHOOL BOARD PLEADS WITH TRUMP ADMIN TO FORCE STATE BAN ON TRANSGENDERS IN GIRLS SPORTS AS DEMOCRATS REFUSE
Washington state’s Chris Reykdal argued that it is “inaccurate” to say “biologically” there are only two genders. (Fox & Friends First/Screengrab)
“That’s not a debate we’re going to have today. I just want to remind you of our civil rights obligations. Our state laws make clear that children get to identify and participate based on the gender in which they identify. We’re going to uphold that law.”
With mixed directives from the federal and state levels, the district is concerned not only about jeopardizing the well-being of female student athletes but also about putting lower-income students at risk if they lose federal funding because of the mix-up.
Kennewick School Board President Gabe Galbraith told Fox News that the district is seeking federal intervention to ensure the order will eventually be honored.
“There’s boys participating in girls’ sports. There’s boys in girls’ locker rooms. It’s unfair. It’s not safe, and we’re asking the federal government to just step in and put an end to this and ensure that the state is following President Trump’s statements,” he said.
Reykdal said his office “has continued to advise Washington’s school districts to stay in compliance with state law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity” in a statement to the Washington State Standard.
He also argued that Trump’s order “attempts to override the authority of states and local school districts by requiring educational institutions to agree to discriminate against trans female athletes in order to continue receiving federal funds.”
“An executive order is not law, and it does not override state law. OSPI will enforce our current laws as we are required to do in a constitutional democracy until Congress changes the law and/or federal courts invalidate Washington state’s laws,” he added.
Fox News’ Jackson Thompson contributed to this report.
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San Francisco kicked off Pride weekend with the return of the Market Street Pride lasers, while the Golden State Valkyries celebrated Pride Night alongside the ValQueeries, an LGBTQ fan group building community through basketball.
A year ago, the Denver Broncos had some questions about the future of their center position. However, during the bye, the Broncos answered those questions by extending one their starter.
Even with that extension, the Broncos still have some questions about the position’s future, partly due to the structure of the deal they granted and the position’s depth.
Our last installment in this positional series was at offensive guard, where the Broncos are very strong and deep. As we continue breaking down each position on the Broncos’ roster ahead of training camp, let’s examine where things stand at center.
Luke Wattenberg
Wattenberg is the starter and will remain so after the big extension Denver gave him in November 2025. Before the extension, his play was solid, but afterward, he looked like a top 10 center in the NFL — then he suffered a shoulder injury.
Wattenberg’s long-term place with the Broncos will depend entirely on his play, as his four-year, $48 million deal is structured so that Denver can get out of it after the 2027 season. It’s essentially a two-year deal for about $25 million.
If Wattenberg isn’t cutting it or can’t stay healthy, the Broncos could move on and save themselves $23 million. He’s missed six games to injury since becoming the starter in 2024, so the Broncos’ depth could be tested with Wattenberg as the guy.
Alex Forsyth
The backup spot is held by Forsyth, a solid run blocker who struggles in pass protection. He has seen the field some over the last two years. When Forsyth stepped in for Wattenberg late last season, he looked much the same as he did in the same role in 2024.
There are still questions about Forsyth, not only with his play but also with the fact that he is entering the final year of his rookie deal as a 2023 seventh-round draft pick. Denver could be looking for a new backup center after this season, as he could decide he wants a chance to start elsewhere and walk in free agency, especially with six career starts on his resume.
Wattenberg will be the starter for 2026 and 2027, so long as he avoids the injury bug. He hasn’t been able to stay on the field since taking over for Lloyd Cushenberry III as the starter in 2024, so if the best predictor of future outcomes is past outcomes, the Broncos had better be prepared for Forsyth to see the field at some point in 2026.
Gavin Ortega and Michael Deiter
Oretega is an undrafted rookie the Broncos brought in, and he has a chance to compete for a practice squad spot. The Broncos brought Deiter in last year after injuries to Wattenberg and Forsyth.
There isn’t a spot for either of these players on the 53-man roster, barring preseason injuries, and it can be tough to keep two centers on the practice squad, even if the players have guard versatility.
While the Broncos have the starting job locked up with Wattenberg for the next two years, their depth is still questionable. Forsyth hasn’t shown the development you want to see, and will be a free agent after this season.
Denver could find itself looking for a center in the 2027 NFL draft to develop in case Wattenberg’s play drops off, or if he isn’t able to sustain the high level of play he displayed after getting his extension late last year.
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