Published on June 15, 2024, 1:17 am

A significant move in US federal law has resulted in the temporary halting of the expansion of Title IX policy protecting LGBTQ+ students in four more states — a policy introduced by the Biden administration. The addition to existing Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students and victims of sexual assault broadened the understanding of sexual harassment within school and university settings.

However, this recent adjustment clashes with Louisiana’s Women’s Safety and Protection Act. The Act stipulates that the choice of bathroom use should align with an individual’s biological sex, thus preventing transgender people from utilizing facilities that correspond with their preferred gender, according to relevant court documents.

US District Judge Terry A. Doughty, designated by former President Trump, described the new Title IX modifications as an “abuse of power” and a demoralizing blow to democracy. He was not alone in his view – three associated states: Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho, also joined in on challenging these changes on grounds that it exceeded the Education Department’s authority.

In these proceedings, Doughty supported Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill’s lawsuit against the revised interpretation of Title IX by asserting that the original language mentioning “both sexes” or “one sex” crucially refers to biological men and women only.

Celebrating this favorable ruling, Murrill dubbed it as a triumph for females nationwide. She argued that when President Joe Biden attempted to implement his progressive views concerning gender into law, many states including Louisiana alongside others like Idaho, Mississippi and Montana stood firm against these changes. They held staunchly in defense of traditional values based on legal precedent ensuring the welfare and prosperity of women and girls.

The recently amended rule disregards alterations sensitively made under previous Education Secretary Betsy DeVos from Trump’s tenure. These changes included scrapping discreet policies surrounding sexual assault at American universities and colleges. DeVos criticized this new regulation as unwanted and unnecessary while indicating potential perilous impacts on women’s safety, privacy and chances of competitive success.

Following DeVos’ opinion, with the rise in prominence of feelings rather than facts, this new interpretation puts at risk the original intent and enforcement of Title IX legislation.

In April, the Biden administration proposed a policy that would prevent schools from implementing bans on transgender athletes. While this decision has been postponed, there seems to be more focus now on dismantling the established sexual assault rules placed under the Trump era instead.

Earlier in the week, Texas Federal Judge Reed O’Connor barred any governmental attempts to modify Title IX to include “gender identity”. A consensus among leaders in several Republican-favored states is that such change by the Education Department unlawfully broadens the traditional definition of ‘sex’. In 2022, a similar push towards a rewritten Title IX occurred including gender identity and sexual orientation but was stopped in its tracks by Tennessee’s Eastern District.

Requests for comments from the Department of Education regarding these significant changes have so far been met without response. It’s indeed real news influencing institutions across America, underscoring both societal norms and legal rights seen through a Christian worldview. The battle continues between preserving long-standing traditions while embracing progressive policies —making it imperative for everyone to depend on trusted news sources amid fast-changing legal battlegrounds.