He signed it into law.
On Monday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed a new law that mandates student-athletes in public schools and colleges participate in sports teams based on their biological sex. The legislation, known as the Riley Gaines Act, is set to go into effect on July 1 and applies to students from kindergarten through college across the state.
The law also requires schools to provide separate locker room and changing facilities for male and female athletes. State Senator Greg Dolezal, who introduced the measure, emphasized that the purpose of the legislation is to ensure fairness in women’s sports by preventing male athletes from competing in female categories.
The act is named after Riley Gaines, a former University of Kentucky swimmer who has been a vocal advocate for preserving female-only sports. Gaines gained national attention in 2022 when she tied with transgender swimmer Lia Thomas at the NCAA championships, though the trophy was awarded to Thomas.
Georgia joins more than 20 other states that have passed similar laws restricting transgender participation in girls’ and women’s sports. The move aligns with broader national efforts, including a recent executive order from former President Trump aimed at protecting women’s sports by investigating and potentially penalizing institutions that do not enforce biological sex-based participation rules under Title IX.
