LYNCHBURG, VA – In the 2024 legislative session, Virginia State Senator Mark Peake (R-Lynchburg) introduced Senate Bill 68, a proposal he described as a “practical compromise” for transgender students in high school sports. Unlike some state measures that restrict participation based solely on biological sex at birth, Peake’s bill would have allowed transgender students who have medically transitioned to compete on teams aligned with their transitioned gender—while still aiming to protect fairness in competition.

Senate Bill 68 was about finding a middle ground, If a kid has gone through the process to transition—hormones, medical oversight, the whole deal—then they should be able to play on the team that matches who they are now. But we also have to make sure it’s fair for everyone else on the field.

Under Peake’s vision for SB 68, transgender students in grades 6 through 12 who completed medical transitions, such as hormone therapy, could have participated in sports consistent with their gender identity. For example, a transgender girl who transitioned from male to female and met medical criteria could join the girls’ team. The bill aimed to distinguish between students who had undergone physical changes and those who had not, addressing concerns about competitive advantages tied to puberty-related differences.

The senator pointed to the evolving federal landscape as inspiration. Recent Title IX updates under the Biden administration, finalized in April 2024, explicitly protect transgender students’ rights to participate in sports consistent with their gender identity, though enforcement varies by state.

Despite Peake’s optimism, Senate Bill 68 faced stiff opposition and failed to advance past the Senate Education and Health Subcommittee in 2024. Critics, including transgender advocates, argued that requiring medical transition as a prerequisite could exclude students unable to access costly treatments due to financial or parental barriers.

Peake countered that the bill was a step forward. If you’ve transitioned, you’re in. If not, we stick with birth sex to protect the integrity of girls’ sports especially. It’s not perfect, but it’s fairer than the free-for-all we have now.

Though SB 68 didn’t become law, This was about giving transitioned trans kids a real shot while respecting the thousands of girls who deserve a level playing field.