ATLANTA — Following a public appearance with President Donald Trump in Washington, where Trump signed an executive order aimed at barring transgender athletes from participating in women’s sports, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones returned to his home state. There, Republicans in the Georgia State Senate took steps in a similar direction by advancing a bill designed to prohibit students at K-12 and college levels from competing in sports assigned to the opposite sex. Similar legislation already exists in numerous Republican-led states. The proposed bill also mandates that individuals utilize changing rooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters based on their sex determined at birth. The Senate’s votes resulted in a 35-17 passage, secured with the support of two Democrats.
This issue ranks high on the agenda for Georgia Republicans during the current legislative session and is a significant focus for conservatives across the country. Since re-entering office, Trump has been responsible for a series of executive orders targeting the rights of transgender individuals. “Protecting the integrity of female sports is crucial. Without guidelines that exclude the male advantage, men could potentially dominate every major sporting event,” stated Republican Senator Greg Dolezal of Cumming, who is the author of the bill.
Critics of the bill argue there are limited cases of transgender women competing in men’s school sports, which is already prohibited by the Georgia High School Association. Senate Minority Leader Harold Jones II, a Democrat from Augusta, condemned the Republican stance, asserting that they are using transgender youth as “political foils” and unfairly portraying them as “supervillains.” “Have we considered that perhaps these individuals just want to play because they enjoy it?” he posed.
Senate Minority Whip Kim Jackson, a Democrat from Stone Mountain, expressed concern that some young cisgender women might feel pressured to provide proof of their gender due to the legislation. “It breaks my heart for cisgender girls who might be questioned because of SB1,” Jackson remarked, noting how girls like herself who may be perceived as too strong or too athletic could face scrutiny. She previously proposed legislation aimed at fostering equitable opportunities in school sports, encompassing fair pay for coaches and reasonable facilities access for women’s teams. Jackson’s efforts to add these provisions to the Republican proposal were dismissed.
Upon reflection, Jackson remarked that her colleagues appeared disinterested in genuinely improving conditions for girls’ sports. According to Dolezal, the proposed amendment was brought up too late in the process, while he contended that Democrats misread their constituents’ views on managing transgender athletes. Senator Freddie Powell Sims, a Democrat, chose not to disclose her reasons for supporting the bill but indicated she would prefer lawmakers to focus on more pressing issues impacting her constituents, such as healthcare and education. “While some want to frame this as a civil rights matter, I don’t see anyone contesting the civil rights of transgender individuals,” Sims added.
Burt Jones had joined Trump in Washington in anticipation of his likely run for governor. Alongside this legislation, he introduced a separate proposal designed to streamline government regulations, mirroring Trump’s initiative. Additionally, another bill put forth by Senator Blake Tillery of Vidalia aims to challenge Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, who has begun his own gubernatorial campaign. Carr previously settled a case concerning state health coverage for transgender-related care, and the new legislation would bar state funds from being allocated for gender-affirming procedures.
Further, Fayetteville Republican Representative Josh Bonner has introduced legislation requiring public schools to separate students by sex in changing areas and sleeping arrangements during sports travel. This measure mirrors the Senate bill by restricting transgender women from participating in men’s sports and imposes a $1,000 fine for noncompliance.
