The regents overseeing Georgia’s 26 public universities and colleges voted unanimously on Tuesday to request the NCAA and another athletic federation to prohibit transgender women from participating in women’s sports. This decision follows Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones’ August pledge to introduce legislation banning transgender women from athletic events at public colleges.
The regents urged the NCAA and the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to align their policies with those of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). In April, the NAIA voted to largely ban transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports across its 241 mostly small colleges.
Among the 25 schools governed by the regents that have sports programs, four are NJCAA members, five are NAIA members, and the remaining 16 are NCAA members. The University of Georgia and Georgia Tech fall under the NCAA.
Georgia university leaders ask NCAA to ban transgender women from sports https://t.co/ElmFFIfpg4
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NAIA permits all athletes to participate in male sports, but only those assigned female at birth and who have not started hormone therapy can participate in women’s sports. In contrast, the NCAA began adhering to national and international governing bodies’ standards for each sport in August. Previously, since 2010, the NCAA required one year of testosterone suppression treatment and documented testosterone levels for transgender athlete participation before championship competitions.
Board of Regents Secretary Chris McGraw noted that the junior college federation allows certain transgender students to participate in women’s athletics under specific conditions. He highlighted the differing rules across NAIA, NJCAA, and NCAA, affecting the institutions’ athletic programs. McGraw, also the board’s chief lawyer, presented the resolution briefly, which passed without debate. Board spokesperson Kristina Torres stated that neither board members nor Chancellor Sonny Perdue, a former Republican governor, had additional comments.
Critics argue that bans on transgender participation in women’s sports serve political ends. Jeff Graham, executive director of LGBTQ+ rights group Georgia Equality, stressed the importance of diversity and the need to support the educational experiences of all students, regardless of gender identity. Graham expressed disappointment in the Board of Regents’ resolution, stating it stigmatizes transgender students and spreads misinformation about athletic competitions involving transgender athletes.
Lt. Gov. Jones, a potential Republican gubernatorial candidate for 2026, thanked the regents in a Tuesday statement. Senate Republicans had highlighted the issue in August, hearing from five former college swimmers suing the NCAA and Georgia Tech over a transgender woman’s participation in the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championships at Georgia Tech.
“The work female athletes put into competing should be protected at all cost, no matter the age,” Jones said. “This action brings us one step closer to achieving that ultimate goal.”
Transgender participation in women’s sports has been a contentious issue in Georgia. In 2022, lawmakers passed a law allowing the Georgia High School Association to regulate transgender women’s participation in sports, leading to a ban on their participation in events it sponsors. However, this law did not address college sports. The Movement Advancement Project reports that 23 states have banned transgender students from participating in college sports, though Montana’s ban was ruled unconstitutional in 2022.
The state Senate hearing in August focused on Lia Thomas, a transgender woman who won the 500-meter freestyle at the 2022 NCAA swimming championships for the University of Pennsylvania. Witnesses and senators criticised Georgia Tech, arguing the institution shared responsibility for Thomas’ participation and locker room usage. Georgia Tech and the university system have denied any role in these decisions in court documents.
What Other Media Are Saying
- College Swimmers, Volleyball Players Sue NCAA over transgender policies, citing reduced competitive opportunities and locker room privacy concerns, sparking a contentious debate on athlete eligibility and fairness.
The lawsuit, which includes a former North Carolina State University swimmer, argues that the NCAA’s transgender eligibility policies violate Title IX and the 14th Amendment, seeking to invalidate awards won by transgender athletes and remove existing policies. Plaintiffs express discomfort over transgender athletes changing in locker rooms with cisgender females, suggesting a biological advantage that alters the competitive balance. This issue has led to a complex discussion about inclusivity, fairness, and bodily privacy in sports.
Key points emphasize the plaintiffs’ discomfort with locker room arrangements, the perceived competitive advantage of transgender athletes, and the legal grounds for challenging NCAA policies. The debate highlights the need for compromise between inclusivity for transgender athletes and the rights of cisgender female athletes to compete without perceived disadvantage.(read more)
- The Georgia Recorder reports that top NCAA women swimmers testified before Georgia lawmakers, alleging unfair competition due to transgender athlete participation, sparking a divisive debate on sports regulations.(read more)
- Star Tribune reports that Georgia university leaders asked the NCAA and NAIA to ban transgender women from competitive women’s sports, citing concerns over fairness and biological differences.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
What decision did the Georgia Board of Regents make about transgender athletes?
They voted to ask the NCAA and NJCAA to ban transgender women from participating in women’s sports.
Why did the Georgia Board of Regents make this decision?
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones vowed to pass legislation to ban transgender women from athletic events at public colleges.
What are the current policies of the NAIA regarding transgender athletes?
NAIA allows only athletes whose biological sex assigned at birth is female and have not begun hormone therapy to compete in women’s sports.
How does the NCAA currently handle transgender athlete participation?
The NCAA follows the standards of national and international governing bodies for each sport.
What did Jeff Graham from Georgia Equality say about the Board of Regents’ vote?
He said it stigmatizes transgender students and perpetuates misinformation about athletic competitions involving transgender athletes.
