Georgia law protects women’s sports from male competitors

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday signed into law a bill that prohibits males who claim to be females from participating in women’s and girl’s sports. The measure passed the Republican-controlled state House and Senate largely along party lines with a total of just five Democrats supporting the bill. The new law bars males from participating on any K-12 or collegiate level female-only sports teams. Girls are also prohibited from participating on male teams unless a corresponding female team does not exist. Public school districts, private schools that participate in competitions, and higher education institutions are required to separate multiple occupancy restrooms and facilities by sex.

How many other states have introduced similar bans? More than half of the states in the country have enacted legislation to protect girl’s and women’s sports. Georgia became the 28th state to prohibit individuals who call themselves transgender from participating on teams that do not align with their sex. President Donald Trump in February signed an executive order promising to revoke federal funding from education institutions that allowed students to play on teams opposite from their sex. The National Collegiate Athletic Association adjusted its policy on student athletes who call themselves transgender after the order.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report about the U.S. House of Representatives sending a subpoena to fencing officials in regards to athletes who call themselves transgender.