Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed the Riley Gaines Act, prohibiting transgender girls from playing on female sports teams and mandating separate facilities based on biological sex, sparking both praise for protecting women’s sports and criticism from transgender rights advocates.
Quick Takes
- Governor Kemp signed Senate Bill 1, officially titled the “Riley Gaines Act of 2025,” requiring student athletes to compete on teams matching their biological sex.
- The law applies to all public K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and private teams competing against public teams, taking effect July 1.
- The bill is named after former swimmer Riley Gaines, who tied with transgender athlete Lia Thomas in a 2022 NCAA championship.
- Georgia joins more than 25 other states with similar legislation prohibiting biological males from participating in girls’ sports.
- A Georgia poll showed over 70% of voters support requiring athletes to play according to their birth certificate sex.
Georgia Takes Stand on Gender and Sports
Georgia joined the growing list of states addressing transgender participation in athletics when Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 1, known as the “Riley Gaines Act of 2025.” The legislation requires student-athletes to compete on teams that align with their biological sex and restricts access to restrooms, locker rooms, and sleeping quarters accordingly. The measure applies to all public K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and private teams that compete against public teams in Georgia, with implementation set for July 1. “This common sense legislation is about what is fair and safe for our children. Girls should not have to share a playing field, a restroom, or locker room with boys,” declared Kemp during signing.
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
The bill was sponsored by Republican State Senator Greg Dolezal and became a priority for House Speaker Jon Burns and Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones. According to polling data cited during legislative deliberations, more than 70% of Georgia voters support requiring athletes to play according to the sex listed on their birth certificates, demonstrating substantial public backing for the measure. Georgia now joins more than 25 other states that have enacted similar prohibitions.
The Riley Gaines Connection
The legislation bears the name of Riley Gaines, a former collegiate swimmer who gained national attention after tying with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Championships. Despite the tie, the championship trophy was awarded to Thomas, fueling Gaines’ advocacy against biological males competing in women’s sports. Gaines expressed gratitude for the bill’s passage, highlighting the significance of the cause for future generations of female athletes.
The bill’s sponsors emphasized that the legislation aims to preserve competitive fairness and protect opportunities for female athletes. Senator Dolezal, who introduced the bill, stated that allowing males to participate in female sports fundamentally changes the nature of women’s athletics. The Georgia High School Association had previously voted to require athletes to compete based on their birth certificate sex, but the new law expands and codifies this requirement across all educational levels.
National Context
Georgia’s action aligns with a broader national trend of states enacting similar legislation. In February, President Trump signed an executive order to investigate schools allowing biological males to compete in women’s sports, potentially withholding federal funding from institutions deemed in violation of Title IX protections for women. The issue continues to generate significant debate about the balance between transgender inclusion and competitive fairness in athletics.
The Riley Gaines Act represents one of the most comprehensive approaches to the issue, addressing not only team participation but also facility usage. With the July 1 implementation date approaching, Georgia schools are now preparing to adapt their policies to comply with the new requirements, ensuring that athletic teams and facilities are designated according to biological sex as specified in the legislation.
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
