Georgia Governor Brian Kemp has signed the Riley Gaines Act into law, effectively banning transgender girls from participating in female sports teams across the state’s public schools and colleges.
At a Glance
- Georgia enacts law barring trans girls from female sports teams
- Law mandates restroom and locker room use based on birth sex
- Named after swimmer Riley Gaines, who competed against Lia Thomas
- Critics argue the law targets a non-existent issue in Georgia
- Georgia joins over 25 states with similar legislation
Georgia’s New Law Restricts Transgender Athletes
On April 28, 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 1, known as the Riley Gaines Act, into law. The legislation prohibits transgender girls from participating in female sports teams in public K–12 schools and colleges in Georgia. It also requires that restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters be designated based on biological sex, according to a release from the Governor’s Office.
The law is named after Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who tied for fifth place with transgender athlete Lia Thomas in a 2022 NCAA competition at Georgia Tech. Gaines has since become a vocal advocate for legislation restricting transgender participation in women’s sports, a stance that gained political traction in recent years (Atlanta Journal-Constitution).
Watch Fox 5 Atlanta’s report on the legislation at Georgia General Assembly passes bill banning trans athletes from women’s sports.
Supporters Emphasize Fairness; Critics Decry Discrimination
Supporters claim the bill protects competitive fairness in athletics. “The General Assembly sent a clear message—biological men are not welcome in girls’ sports or spaces here in Georgia,” said House Speaker Jon Burns during the signing ceremony, according to Fox News.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones echoed this sentiment, saying the law upholds “fair and safe environments” for girls, as reported by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
However, LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations such as GLAAD and Georgia Equality condemned the measure. They argue that no documented cases of transgender girls participating in competitive school sports in Georgia exist, labeling the bill a solution to a “fabricated problem” that marginalizes trans youth (GLAAD).
Enforcement and Broader Implications
The law gives Georgia officials authority to withhold state funds or authorize lawsuits against schools failing to comply with its terms, further tightening institutional enforcement. Schools must also ensure sex-based separation in housing and changing areas unless no female team exists, in which case female athletes may play on boys’ teams (The Atlanta Voice).
This legislation places Georgia among over 25 states with similar laws regulating transgender participation in school sports. Supporters see the Riley Gaines Act as a reinforcement of biological distinctions in athletics, while opponents argue it inflames social divisions and inflicts harm on an already vulnerable community.
As national attention converges on Georgia, the debate over inclusion, equity, and the definition of fairness in youth and collegiate sports is intensifying across state lines (WABE).
