North Gwinnett News

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed off on legislation that would restrict information public schools are able to teach in the classroom and give the Georgia High School Association the authority to ban transgender girls who play for public schools from competing against other girls. 

This comes as Kemp signed a series of seven education bills into law Thursday, with many drawing attention from the general public, a report by FOX 5 Atlanta said.

"As a parent of three daughters I've been very concerned about things we've seen here in and around the country when it comes to fairness in girls' sports, making sure kids aren't indoctrinated in the classroom, obscene materials," Kemp told North Gwinnett News.

One of the seven bills Kemp signed was House Bill 1084, which would ban the teaching of certain race-related issues in public schools, the report said. The measure prohibits the teaching of nine “divisive concepts” in Georgia classrooms, including the concept that the U.S. is “fundamentally racist,” that many people are "inherently racist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously,” and that no one "should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of his or her race."  

The measure also bans the training of school employees by anyone who supports the prohibited divisive concepts, the report said. Alongside House Bill 1084, the governor signed the Parent’s Bill of Rights, giving parents and guardians increased access to and control over the materials their children see and are taught in schools.

There are private schools that are also members of the Georgia High School Association; however, the bill does not explicitly give the association the power to ban transgender girls who play for those institutions from competition, the report said.

At least 10 Republican-led states have already banned transgender women or girls in sports, and other GOP-led states are considering similar measures, the report said.