In a major legal blow to the Biden administration, a federal judge in Kentucky has struck down the Title IX rules that expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students nationwide. The 1,500-page regulation was found to overstep the president’s authority and was halted in 26 states after a wave of legal challenges by Republican states. The decision, in response to a lawsuit filed by several states, was hailed as a rejection of the administration’s push to impose a “radical gender ideology.”
The controversial rule, finalized last year, expanded Title IX to prevent discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation, a move that was praised by civil rights advocates but criticized by conservatives. The rule did not explicitly address athletics but was seen as potentially impacting transgender athletes in girls’ sports. The judge found that the Education Department overstepped its authority by expanding the scope of Title IX and violated free speech rights by requiring teachers to use specific pronouns.
The ruling has been celebrated by critics of the rule, including former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who called the Biden administration’s rewrite of Title IX “radical, unfair, illegal, and absurd.” Republican lawmakers have vowed to ensure that women and girls are protected under Title IX and have criticized the Biden administration for betraying the original intent of the law.
With the ruling, the regulation has been completely scrapped, reverting to a previous interpretation of Title IX that existed for over 50 years. The Education Department has not commented on the decision, but it marks a significant setback for the administration’s efforts to expand protections for LGBTQ+ students.
Source
Photo credit www.nbcconnecticut.com