When talking about House Bill 276, bill sponsor Rep. Phillip Singleton (R-Sharpsburg) stresses that he isn’t targeting any specific group. Instead, he says, he’s protecting girls’ sports for girls.
“It’s important to Georgia that we continue to protect our girls,” Singleton told IAG. “We’re doing that with our fight against sex trafficking, we’re doing it with our protection of the unborn in the womb, and now we need to protect our girls in the sports arena.”
According to Singleton, House Bill 276 would prohibit public and private schools’ athletic programs, as well as athletic programs in the University System of Georgia that compete against other student athletic teams from allowing biological males to participate in an athletic program that is designated for biological females. If the proposed legislation is passed and signed into law, students who have been deprived of an athletic opportunity or suffered harm from a school violating HB 276 would be able to sue their school or school system for injunctive relief, damages or other relief within two years after the violation occurred.
The bill is expected to be heard today at 1:30 p.m. in the House Education Academic Support Subcommittee. Singleton said he hopes the subcommittee takes a vote on the bill in that hearing. “It shouldn’t be that complex. I do hope they go ahead and vote in this meeting so we can move forward.”
In essence, Singleton said the bill would prevent “biological males” from playing in school sports with “biological females,” halting children of different sexes or gender identities from playing in the same leagues.
“I, along with 38 other House members who co-signed this legislation, believe every single athlete should have the opportunity to compete, and there is no place for identity politics or discrimination of any type in sports,” said Rep. Singleton. “In 1972, Title IX was established to stop discrimination and create equal athletic opportunities for girls. Before Title IX, one in 27 girls played sports. Today that number is two in five. In athletic competition, our daughters learn the power of preparation, the pain of defeat and the empowerment of success. If we ignore biological reality, female-only sports will suffer, and our daughters will lose opportunity. As state legislators, we have made it our business to protect the lives and livelihoods of our citizens, and House Bill 276 would allow Georgia to take a step towards protecting our daughters, their dreams and their futures.”
Singleton said he heard from many constituents about this issue when he was on the campaign trail a few years ago. “The more I thought about, I thought about my own 10-year-old daughter, and how important it is for us to protect our daughters.”
He knows some advocacy groups will protest the bill. The ACLU is already fighting a similar law in Idaho — whose law is very similar to Singleton’s bill. “I am sure many advocacy groups will oppose this bill and try to make it out against them. But this bill isn’t against anyone. This bill protects girls’ sports.”
In fact, a few groups have already come out against the bill, including Georgia Equality and the nonprofit Athlete Ally. “This is a shameful attack on Georgia’s transgender youth and young adults,” said Georgia Quality spokeswoman Shannon Clawson. “The proposed legislation does nothing to protect or support girls’ sports, rather it serves only to spread hateful stereotypes and endangers children and their ability to fully participate in important extracurricular activities.”
A number of powerful Republicans have signed on to the bill including Jodi Lott (R-Evans) one of Governor Brian Kemp’s floor leaders, and state Rep. Wes Cantrell (R-Woodstock).
