In a recent ruling, a federal judge has blocked the Biden administration from enforcing new protections for LGBTQ+ students in Ohio, Virginia, and four other states. US District Judge Danny Reeves stated in a 93-page ruling that the new protections, set to take effect on August 1, cannot be enforced in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and West Virginia while a lawsuit brought by those states’ attorneys general plays out.
These new rules, which require schools to protect students from all sex discrimination, expand the definition to include discrimination based on pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions like childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from pregnancy. Compliance with these rules is necessary to receive federal education aid.
The changes made by the Biden administration to Title IX, the 1972 federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination at schools that receive federal aid, aim to curb discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
However, in his ruling, Judge Reeves expressed concern that the Department of Education’s interpretation of Title IX would redefine “sex” to include “gender identity,” a move that he believes conflicts with the plain language of the statute. He also stated that the changes could potentially require educators to use students’ preferred pronouns even if it conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs.
This ruling comes in the midst of other challenges in federal courts across the country. A spokesperson for the Department of Education referenced a previous statement issued after a similar ruling last week, stating that they stand by the final Title IX regulations released in April 2024 and will continue to fight for every student.
