GHSA bans transgender athletes from competing in sports that don’t match sex on birth certificates

ATLANTA — The state’s high school sports governing body voted Wednesday morning that all athletes who want to play sports must participate based on the sex on their birth certificate.

The Georgia High School Association, which represents 463 high schools, voted unanimously to go back to their 2017 bylaws, which said all high school athletes must compete based on the gender that is on the athlete’s birth certificate.

“We wanted to keep a level playing field,” GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines said.

Hines told Channel 2′s Dave Huddleston that there wasn’t a particular case that forced the high school sports governing body to make this ruling.

“It really hasn’t been an issue. It’s out of a concern of competitive imbalance, understanding there is biological differences,” Hines said.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Father charged with 2nd degree murder after baby left in hot car, police say
• Couple wanted for questioning over smashed door at Golden Corral after they had to wait for pizza
• 1 dead, 1 in custody after shooting outside CVS in Peachtree City

But some don’t see it that way. The gender policy manager for Georgia Equality sent Huddleston a statement, that reads in part:

“The decision is discriminatory and divisive. Now because our state policy makers have failed all students, we need to look to our federal policymakers to intervene.”

Hines said the fact that members voted unanimously, shows the support for the policy but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

“Any bylaw that’s in our constitution and bylaws, is certainly appealable,” Hines said.

The new policy will be put in place immediately and will be part of the 2022-23 school calendar.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Father charged with 2nd degree murder after baby left in hot car, police say Davied Japez McWorry, who is the baby’s father, has been charged with second-degree murder.

©2022 Cox Media Group