Press Release: GE responds to GHSA vote to change policy on gender

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GEORGIA EQUALITY RESPONDS TO GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOLASSOCIATION VOTE TO CHANGE POLICY ON GENDER

May 4, 2022 (Atlanta, GA) — This morning the Georgia High School Association Executive Committee voted to change their policy regarding the gender of participants in school sports being restricted only to the sex listed on a birth certificate.

Jeff Graham (he/him), executive director of Georgia Equality, Georgia’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, released the following statement in response:

“Quite frankly, the secretive and hasty process by which this was done is despicable. All Georgia students should have equal access to school sports, and efforts to change policies that facilitate that should be done in a transparent and open way. Today’s actions of the GHSA Executive Committee will do real harm to trans kids in Georgia that just want to be themselves and fit in.

“At no point during the general assembly’s debate of bills that would have had a similarly devastating impact, were the supporters of this change able to present a single example of how allowing transgender students to participate in athletes harmed other students in Georgia. In fact, the legislation that did pass called for a commission to study this issue and recommend action if appropriate. It is disturbing that this body would act in a rash manner without careful consideration of the implications of this policy change on the well-being of all students or without the thoughtful study that such a complicated and sensitive issue warrants.

Chanel Haley (she/her), Gender Policy Manager at Georgia Equality said this:

“Unfortunately the GHSA has decided to ignore case precedent by favoring certain students and parents over others. The decision is discriminatory and divisive. Now because our state policymakers have failed ALL students, we need to look to our federal policymakers to intervene in securing protections and inclusion for ALL student athletes.”

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