A federal judge in Kentucky has ruled that the Biden administration’s rules protecting LGBTQ+ students under Title IX were unlawful. The decision, made by U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, struck down the 1,500-page regulation, saying it went beyond what the president’s authority allowed. The rule had already been blocked in 26 states after Republican-led states filed legal challenges.
The new regulations, issued by the Biden administration, aimed to expand Title IX, a 1972 law that prohibits discrimination in education based on sex. The rules were designed to prevent discrimination against students based on gender identity and sexual orientation. They also broadened the definition of harassment to include more types of misconduct. This expansion was seen as a victory by many civil rights groups, as it provided LGBTQ+ students with more protections against bullying and harassment. However, it also sparked strong opposition from conservatives, particularly over concerns that it would allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports.
The ruling came after a lawsuit filed by several states, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia. Tennessee’s Attorney General, Jonathan Skrmetti, argued that the Biden administration was trying to push a “radical gender ideology” on schools. He also said that the ruling would allow President Trump, when he takes office again, to review and possibly change the Title IX regulations.
Civil rights groups, such as GLAAD, called the decision a step backward for LGBTQ+ rights. They emphasized that transgender and nonbinary students face high levels of bullying, and protections for these students help create safer schools for everyone.
Judge Reeves ruled that the Education Department had exceeded its authority in expanding Title IX’s scope and that such changes should come through Congress, not through the executive branch. He also found that the rules violated free speech rights by forcing teachers to use pronouns in line with a student’s gender identity. Instead of adjusting parts of the regulation, Reeves decided to invalidate the entire rule, returning to the previous interpretation of Title IX that had been in place for over 50 years.
This decision is a significant blow to the Biden administration’s efforts to broaden LGBTQ+ protections in schools. Critics, like former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, celebrated the ruling, calling the new Title IX regulations “radical” and “illegal.”
