US Department of Education Says Title IX Protects Transgender Kids from Discrimination

The US Department of Education today announced that it will interpret Title IX’s prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex to include discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

Equality Florida's statement below:

"Florida's Republican leadership repeatedly ignored warnings that their unnecessary and cruel Transgender Youth Sports Ban violates Title IX. For nearly a decade Florida has had clear guidelines on transgender student athlete participation that worked. Bill sponsors could not identify a single issue in Florida under those policies. Republican leadership relied on fear and ignorance to manipulated the legislative process and rush through a bill that pandered to extremists in their base for votes. They are wasting taxpayer money on a law they know violates Title IX, is unconstitutional, and serves no purpose.

One year ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court in Bostock made clear that sex-based nondiscrimination protections include protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and today the Department of Education followed suit. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals had similarly established--well before our legislative session--that Title IX includes these protections.

Equality Florida is grateful that the Biden Administration and Secretary Cardona have affirmed these principles today and are standing on the side of LGBTQ people living and working without fear of harassment, exclusion, or discrimination. This is welcome news for the LGBTQ community and specifically our transgender youth, who have borne the brunt of legislative attacks and lies in Tallahassee. They deserve the same opportunities as any other student, not lies about who they are."