Republican-led states are suing the Biden administration and advising schools to ignore the new federal Title IX changes that expand sex discrimination protection to students who identify as the opposite sex, or transgender.
The rule change, published on April 19, formalizes the Department of Education’s redefinition of the meaning of sex to include gender identity.
The changes, which go into effect Aug. 1, give males identifying as female the right to use female restrooms, locker rooms, and join female-only organizations. Under the new rule, “harassment” can include the use of biologically accurate pronouns.
Title IX is a landmark 1972 civil rights law meant to protect females from discrimination based on sex in federally funded educational programs and provide them equal opportunities.
Schools and colleges that fail to comply with Title IX stand to lose federal dollars.
“The U.S. Department of Education has no authority to let boys into girls’ locker rooms,” Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti, a Republican, said in a statement on the lawsuit.
“In the decades since its adoption, Title IX has been universally understood to protect the privacy and safety of women in private spaces like locker rooms and bathrooms,” he said.
Should the government change Title IX to include these controversial transgender provisions?