Legislation on student athlete religious expression advances

Legislation that prohibits discrimination against the expression of religious sentiments on student athletic uniforms passed the Georgia House of Representatives on Wednesday.

The vote was 136-25 on House Bill 870. The Senate has a companion bill, Senate Bill 309, that was still in committee Wednesday.

Proponents say the legislation prohibits discrimination against religious expression on uniforms, if personal expression is ever allowed on them under the governing rules of events and of the Georgia High School Association. Opponents say it will create turmoil at sporting events if people misinterpret it as a mandate to allow religious expression in all sporting events.

The bills also allows play between teams that are and are not members of the Georgia High School Association. The GHSA, under pressure from lawmakers, is in the process of approving such play, which is currently banned. But the full body doesn’t vote until April, and the HB 870 chief co-sponsor, Rep. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, said this legislation would mandate that inter-association play be allowed.

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Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com