The first bill introduced during the 2025 Georgia legislative session seeks to prevent transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports at middle schools, high schools, and colleges.
According to the bill, a student’s sex will be determined based on the information listed on their birth certificate. As a result, schools will be prohibited from allowing a student who was assigned male at birth to participate on a team specifically designated for females. However, it is important to note that girls will still have the opportunity to play on boys’ teams, and both genders will be allowed to participate on teams designated as co-ed.
The bill mandates that schools should allocate separate facilities for changing, restroom, and sleeping purposes for both males and females. Additionally, it establishes a mechanism for individuals who feel aggrieved by the law to seek redress from the county superior court. Failure to comply with these provisions may result in schools losing their state funding.
According to Senator Greg Dolezal, a Republican from Cumming who sponsored the bill, the regulations would extend to schools outside of Georgia that participate in competitions within the state.
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who is expected to run for governor next year when Gov. Brian Kemp’s term ends, supports the measure.
“Women’s sports should be reserved for biological women, without a doubt,” Jones declared. “This is something that most people understand, except for the extreme liberals in Georgia. The Senate has consistently taken the lead in safeguarding women’s sports, and with Senate Bill 1, we will continue to champion this common-sense cause. I am unwavering in my commitment to protect our sisters and daughters, ensuring they can participate in Georgia sports on an equal footing. I eagerly anticipate the passage of Senate Bill 1, which will make the protection of women’s sports a reality for all female athletes in Georgia.”
House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington, showed his support for a bill that aims to prohibit transgender girls from participating in sports during a conversation with reporters last week.
The transgender community strongly criticized the bill, describing it as a disrespectful move. They pointed out that the fact that it was the very first bill filed in the session is indicative of misplaced priorities.
“We’ve just received news that, right on the opening day of the session, Republicans introduced Senate Bill 1 to officially prohibit transgender youth from participating in sports,” expressed Carl Charles, a senior attorney at Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ legal advocacy group. Charles added, “It’s disheartening to see such a measure take precedence, considering the multitude of pressing matters that Georgians face and the urgent issues that our legislators should be addressing.”
A rally and press conference took place at the Capitol on Monday, where transgender Georgians and their supporters came together. Wearing blue and pink transgender pride clothes and waving flags, dozens of individuals expressed their determination to resist the proposed law.
“Noël Heatherland, the statewide organizing director for Georgia Equality, acknowledges that throughout history, there have always been individuals who resist equality and hinder progress. This is not a new phenomenon,” Heatherland states. “We have witnessed opposition against interracial couples, gay marriage, and desegregation. However, we have triumphed in the face of adversity in the past, and we will do so once again for transgender and non-binary individuals in Georgia.”
Lawmakers last year introduced multiple bills that were criticized by advocates as being anti-LGBTQ. However, none of these bills were able to pass both chambers due to the overwhelming presence of LGBTQ supporters at the Capitol and committee meetings.
According to Bentley Hudgins, the Georgia State Director of the Human Rights Campaign, this year’s session will witness a significant turnout of pro-trans Georgians.
“We won’t slow down,” they declared. “We recognize that this is the time to take every possible measure to safeguard the LGBTQ+ community in Georgia.”
“We understand that life consists of various aspects, and therefore, we will continue our efforts to safeguard everyone. Our dedication to this cause remains unwavering.”
