ATLANTA — On Friday, Georgia Senate Republicans proposed legislation aimed at prohibiting transgender girls and women from participating in high school and college sports. This recommendation paves the way for potential legislative action during the upcoming 2025 session.
The decision by the committee, which has been examining this topic, was anticipated. Lt. Governor Burt Jones, who may run for governor in 2026, outlined similar objectives during the committee’s inaugural meeting back in August.
This topic is not new to Georgia lawmakers. In 2022, legislation was enacted allowing the Georgia High School Association the authority to manage the participation of transgender students in sports. Following that legislation, the association implemented a policy effectively barring both transgender boys and girls from joining teams that align with their gender identity.
Proponents like Jones contend that the existing regulations are insufficient, arguing that legislative intervention is necessary. The Republican sentiment appears to center on the potential political benefits of addressing public anxieties regarding transgender women competing in women’s sports or accessing women’s restrooms.
Currently, at least 26 states, predominantly led by Republican lawmakers, have enacted laws or guidelines aimed at limiting the participation of transgender girls in high school athletics, with some extending these restrictions to transgender women in college sports, as reported by the Movement Advancement Project, an organization advocating for LGBTQ+ rights.
In the context of Georgia, additional legislative measures seem increasingly probable, especially with endorsements from key political figures like House Speaker Jon Burns and Governor Brian Kemp, both Republicans, who have expressed support for further laws.
Jeff Graham, the executive director of Georgia Equality, an LGBTQ+ advocacy organization, conveyed that his group remains vigilant, worried about potential legislation that could impose additional limitations on gender-affirming healthcare or restrict transgender individuals from utilizing public bathrooms consistent with their gender identity.
Graham noted, “We anticipate at least as many bills as in 2023 and 2024, if not more.” However, Burns has clarified his intentions, stating he is not inclined to pursue legislation affecting transgender rights beyond the topic of girls’ and women’s sports. Similarly, Republican State Senator Greg Dolezal, who led the Senate study committee, reiterated his lack of interest in broadening the scope to include bathroom regulations, although he did support a recommendation for schools to align locker room access with students’ sex assigned at birth.
Dolezal emphasized that the legislation under discussion would encompass public schools, colleges, and private institutions competing with public entities. Additionally, the committee proposed provisions allowing individuals to sue or file grievances against schools that violate these regulations, and suggested the withholding of state funds from non-compliant schools.
Advocates for increased restrictions have referenced the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships at Georgia Tech, where Lia Thomas, a transgender woman representing the University of Pennsylvania, excelled in the 500-meter freestyle event. In response to controversies surrounding transgender athlete participation, the NCAA has adjusted its guidelines to align with regulations set forth by individual athletics organizations. World Aquatics has instituted a ban on transgender women who have undergone male puberty from competing in women’s events, thereby disqualifying Thomas from current NCAA competitions.
In response to the ongoing debate, Graham remarked, “I maintain that this issue is a solution seeking a problem.” He expressed concern that individuals opposing restrictive laws aimed at transgender individuals might hesitate to voice their objections at the Georgia Capitol, referencing an incident where someone was charged with assault after confronting U.S. Representative Nancy Mace in a Capitol office building in Washington, D.C.
Throughout the discussions on Friday, Dolezal aimed to temper the emotional intensity surrounding the matter. “I believe there’s a community that seeks respect, and they certainly deserve it,” he told reporters. “Nonetheless, one can be respectful while also acknowledging the importance of fairness and competition within sports.”
