Christian schools celebrate court throwing out Biden rule

The Christian Educators Association celebrated a landmark victory as a federal district court in Kentucky struck down the Biden administration’s controversial Title IX rule that would have required public schools to implement policies promoting fluid “gender identity” or risk losing federal funding. The rules, which briefly took effect last August, had already faced significant pushback with temporary injunctions blocking implementation in 26 states.

In this groundbreaking case, the association joined forces with six states and a female high school athlete to challenge the federal government’s overreach, defending both educators’ First Amendment rights and students’ educational and athletic opportunities. The January 2025 ruling marks a significant victory for religious freedom in education.

“We are thrilled that the judge saw these rules exactly for what they are: a contradiction of Title IX’s text and purpose,” said David Schmus, executive director of Christian Educators. “Our members and other educators are free from any attempt by the federal government to use Title IX to force them to say things about sex and gender identity that aren’t true and that violate their deeply held convictions.”

The struck-down rules would have mandated that students expressing a gender identity inconsistent with their sex be granted access to sex-specific private spaces, including restrooms, locker rooms, overnight field trip accommodations, and athletic teams. Additionally, educators would have been required to address students using names and pronouns inconsistent with their biological sex, potentially forcing those with sincere religious and philosophical objections to choose between their convictions and their careers.

Judge Danny Reeves delivered a decisive ruling, explaining that “expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head,” and “throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless.”

Alliance Defending Freedom, the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage, family and parental rights, provided legal representation for Christian Educators in this landmark case. The ruling represents a significant victory for religious liberty and educational freedom across America.