Tonight’s breaking news focuses on two recent court rulings that have impacted the Biden administration’s efforts to protect LGBTQ+ students and workers.
On Thursday, US District Judge Terry Doughty issued a preliminary injunction blocking the implementation of new federal protections for LGBTQ+ students in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho. These protections were set to take effect on August 1.
Following this, on Friday, a federal appeals court upheld an existing block on federal guidance aimed at protecting transgender students and workers in 20 states.
These rulings come as a result of challenges to changes in Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at federally aided schools. The Biden administration’s changes to Title IX aim to prevent discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics.
In response to these rulings, Department of Education spokesperson Vanessa Harmoush reaffirmed the importance of the new regulations, stating, “The Department stands by the final Title IX regulations released in April 2024, and we will continue to fight for every student.”
The lawsuit against the Biden administration, brought by GOP-led states, argues that the administration overstepped its authority with these new rules. The plaintiffs are seeking to strike down the rules nationwide.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ rights have voiced concern over the impact of these rulings on the community, with Human Rights Campaign president Kelley Robinson stating, “Today’s decision prioritizes anti-LGBTQ+ hate over the safety and well-being of students.”
In a separate development, the 6th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling on Friday upholding a preliminary injunction against federal guidance intended to protect transgender students and workers in 20 states. The ruling allows these states to continue enforcing laws without fear of losing federal funding for schools.
Circuit Judge John Nalbandian, in the majority opinion, highlighted the challenges faced by states with conflicting laws, stating, “States will be hampered in their ability to enforce their laws, and the States will continue to face pressure to change their laws to avoid legal consequences.”
However, dissenting Judge Danny Boggs argued against the preliminary injunction, questioning the legal standing of the plaintiffs to bring the challenge.
The GOP-led states involved in this challenge include Tennessee, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia.
