by Dave Williams | Feb 24, 2022 | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Controversial legislation prohibiting transgender students born male from competing in most girls’ sports in Georgia cleared the Republican-controlled state Senate Thursday.
The bill, which passed 34-22 along party lines, stems from complaints by parents of biological girls who have quit sports because they don’t want to have to compete against transgendered girls who were born male and, thus, enjoy an unfair advantage in strength and speed, said Sen. Marty Harbin, R-Tyrone, the measure’s chief sponsor.
“This bill is about fairness,” he said. “It’s simply not fair to force biological girls to compete against biological boys.”
But Senate Democrats argued the legislation stigmatizes transgendered students, a particularly vulnerable group of young people who suffer from a high suicide rate.
“This is hurting our kids,” said a tearful Sen. Sally Harrell, D-Atlanta, who is the mother of a transgendered child.
Harrell said the bill is premature, coming at a time when transgendered children aren’t well understood by many.
“Let society deal with this issue for a little while,” she said. “Let the sports associations try to figure it out.”
Sen. Elena Parent, D-Atlanta, said the measure is politically motivated, part of a conservative agenda Republicans are pushing under the Gold Dome.
“It’s another election-year bill about another fabricated problem,” she said. “Ostracizing vulnerable children to get votes is despicable.”
But Sen. Matt Brass, R-Newnan, said the bill is meant to safeguard the integrity of girls’ sports.
“Women’s sports is one of the greatest tools we have in the fight for gender equality,” he said. “This bill simply protects that tool.”
The bill now moves to the Georgia House of Representatives.
This story is available through a news partnership with Capitol Beat News Service, a project of the Georgia Press Educational Foundation.
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Three cheers for common sense.
Has anyone considered why the transgender movement was not an issue back in the 50’s and 60’s? What changed in our society since then? Well, people started using “recreational substances”, stopped participating in traditional organized religions, using the internet and social media, formed special interest political action groups, and implemented identity politics. Did mom and dad’s casual weed use mutate the genes they passed on to their children? Are all the female hormones, flushed down toilets in the urine of women on birth control pills, polluting the drinking water supply and changing our biochemistry? Is the anti-depressants that so many people need to get through the day? Or is it being exposed to transgender propaganda on social and mainstream media, in school programs, and from peers? Any observant adult knows that children do not possess effective decision-making skills that consider the positive and negative consequences of the decision. They should be passing a law that bans transgender medical and surgical treatment for people under 18.
Let’s not forget that Hollywood and television has played major roll in influencing our youth!!
It is truly sad when we have to legislate what used to be common sense.