Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed Senate Bill 1, known as the “Riley Gaines Act,” making it illegal for transgender student-athletes to participate in school sports according to their gender identity, sparking both praise and criticism across the state.
Key Takeaways
- The Riley Gaines Act requires student athletes in Georgia to compete on teams that align with their biological sex as listed on their birth certificate.
- The legislation also restricts access to restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters based on biological sex.
- The bill was named after Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who competed against transgender athlete Lia Thomas.
- Georgia joins more than 25 other states with similar laws prohibiting transgender girls from participating in female sports.
- The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to all public K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and private teams competing against public teams.
Georgia Takes Stand on Women’s Sports
Governor Brian Kemp signed the Riley Gaines Act into law, making Georgia the latest state to enact legislation requiring student athletes to compete on teams that match their biological sex as determined by their birth certificate. The bill, officially Senate Bill 1, was a top priority for Republican leadership in the state legislature. The measure passed along party lines and will take effect on July 1, applying to all public educational institutions in the state as well as private teams that compete against public ones.
Beyond sports participation, the law also mandates that schools enforce policies requiring the use of facilities such as restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters according to biological sex. This comprehensive approach aims to address concerns about both competitive fairness and privacy in educational settings across the state.
GA Gov Brian Kemp signs SB 1, the Riley Gaines Act, into law. It prevents men from playing in women's sports and entering women's locker rooms.
Common sense is making a comeback. pic.twitter.com/6Gf3BPPr4Z
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) April 28, 2025
Named After Prominent Advocate
The legislation bears the name of Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who gained national attention after tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle at the 2022 NCAA Women’s Swimming Championships. According to reports, though they tied for fifth place, Thomas was given the trophy while Gaines received hers later by mail, an incident that catalyzed Gaines’ advocacy for women’s sports protections.
The bill’s sponsor, Forsyth County Republican State Senator Greg Dolezal, emphasized the purpose of the legislation, “This bill recognizes that when you allow males to participate in female sports, it ceases to become female sport.” Dolezal further stated that the measure “will establish clearly in Georgia law that males are not allowed to compete in female sports in the state of Georgia.”
Controversy and Support
The bill passage was not without opposition. Notably, it received final legislative approval on March 31, coinciding with Transgender Day of Visibility, a timing that critics viewed as deliberately provocative. Transgender rights activists organized a protest “field day” in response to what they characterized as harmful legislation targeting vulnerable youth.
Despite criticism, polling suggests broad public support for the measure. According to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, over 70% of Georgia voters favor requiring athletes to compete according to their birth certificate sex. The Georgia High School Association had already implemented a similar policy in 2022, but the new law expands those requirements across all educational levels in the state.
Part of a National Trend
Georgia’s action reflects a growing national movement, with more than 25 states having enacted similar legislation. The issue has gained attention at the federal level as well. In February, President Trump signed an executive order to investigate schools allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, suggesting potential withholding of federal funding from institutions that permit such participation.
With the law set to take effect this summer, Georgia educational institutions now face the task of implementing these regulations across their athletic programs and facilities, adding the state to the growing number of jurisdictions that have established clear distinctions based on biological sex in school sports.
Sources:
Kemp signs bill banning transgender girls, women from playing on female sports teams
Governor Kemp Signs ‘Riley Gaines Act’ Banning Trans Athletes from Girls’ Sports
