FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Georgia Equality Responds to Filing of Bill
to Exclude Trans Students from Sport

February 2, 2022 (Atlanta, GA) — Georgia Equality, the state’s largest organization working to advance fairness, safety and opportunity for LGBTQ communities and allies in Georgia, responded to yesterday’s filing of anti-transgender legislation Senate Bill (SB) 435 and specifically its call for the exclusion of trans students from full inclusion in school sports.

SB 435 would force an already vulnerable group of young people in Georgia onto the sidelines. For transgender youth, many of whom experience high rates of depression and suicidality, access to sport can be lifesaving. Sports teach invaluable, lifelong lessons about teamwork, discipline and hard work, and every young person deserves equal access and opportunity.

“Full and meaningful inclusion of LGBTQ students in their schools is critical, and yet under attack in Georgia. From artwork in Athens to attempts to ban trans students from sport in the General Assembly, these anti-LGBTQ efforts must be stopped” said Jeff Graham, executive director at Georgia Equality. “LGBTQ students, the children of same-sex parents and kids with beloved LGBTQ family members have just as much right to see themselves and their families reflected in the classroom, the library, and on the field of play as other students do.”

The proposed legislation does nothing to protect or support student sports, rather it serves only to spread hateful stereotypes and endangers children and their ability to fully participate in important extracurricular activities. SB 435 is a solution in search of a problem in the worst way. Georgia Equality will work with all of our allies across the state to make sure this election year stunt doesn’t become law in Georgia.

ABOUT
Founded in 1995, Georgia Equality is the state’s largest organization working to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for Georgia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and allied communities.