“Riley Gaines Act: New Legislation Aims to Ban Transgender Athletes from Women’s Sports in Georgia”

The Riley Gaines Act, introduced by Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, aims to prevent biological males from competing in women’s sports, focusing on both K-12 and collegiate levels. Under this bill, biological males would be prohibited from participating in female-designated athletic teams, and separate facilities, like bathrooms and locker rooms, would be required for athletic events.

Additionally, athletic scholarships for women could not be awarded to biological males. Private schools competing against public schools would also need to adhere to these rules.

Named after Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer, the legislation follows her advocacy for banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Gaines became prominent in 2022 after a race against transgender swimmer Lia Thomas, where they tied for fifth place, sparking her push for the NCAA to take action.

However, the bill has met strong opposition from critics, including Democratic Senator Kim Jackson, who believes the focus on transgender athletes is unnecessary and potentially harmful to a vulnerable group of people.

She argues that this legislation addresses a non-issue in Georgia, where girls are not being excluded from sports or scholarships due to transgender competitors.

The Riley Gaines Act builds upon the 2022 House Bill 1084, which also targeted the participation of biological males in female sports, requiring oversight committees for state-funded high schools and giving athletic associations the authority to prevent such participation.

 

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