A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Biden's expansion of Title IX in four states, citing concerns over the mandatory gender identity protections as an 'abuse of power.'
U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty referred to the Biden administration's changes to Title IX as a 'threat to democracy,' highlighting the need for separation of powers and checks and balances in the rulemaking process.
The ruling prevents the implementation of the changes in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho, stating that the term 'gender discrimination' under Title IX originally referred only to discrimination against biological males and females at the time of enactment.
Title IX is a longstanding civil rights law aimed at preventing sex-based discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. The recent updates by the Biden administration expanded the definition of discrimination to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
Under the new rules, schools would be prohibited from treating individuals differently based on sex, except in limited circumstances. Critics argue that this change could lead to gender identity-based locker rooms and bathrooms.
LGBTQ+ students facing discrimination would be entitled to a response from their schools under Title IX, with the option to seek recourse from the federal government if necessary.
While advocates view the changes as crucial for protecting transgender students, opponents argue that the expanded definition of discrimination could undermine existing protections for women and girls.
Legal challenges against the Biden administration's Title IX changes are ongoing in various states across the country, mirroring the Louisiana case. The new rules are scheduled to take effect on August 1.
