Georgia High School Association votes unanimously to require athletes to compete according to birth sex

The Georgia High School Association voted unanimously on Wednesday that students who compete in high school sports must do so according to the sex recorded on their birth certificate. “We wanted to keep a level playing field,” GHSA executive director Dr. Robin Hines

. “It’s out of a concern of competitive imbalance, understanding there are biological differences.” The association, representing 463 high schools in Georgia,

(with one abstaining) on the rule, which is a return to previous by-laws. In 2016, the association

make their own policies. The vote follows a

signed into law last month by Gov. Brian Kemp that included a provision granting the sports association authority to make gender-related policies. In a tweet about the GHSA vote, the governor said, “I'm proud to have championed this effort in Georgia!”

Following my signature on HB 1084, the Georgia High School Association today voted to protect fairness in school sports by unanimously approving youth to compete according to the sex determined on his/her birth certificate.

I'm proud to have championed this effort in Georgia! pic.twitter.com/m0bTA27Oas

— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) May 4, 2022