Federal Judge Strikes Down Biden’s Title IX Gender Identity Rules, Victory for Christian Educators
A federal judge struck down the Biden administration’s controversial Title IX rules this week, marking a significant victory for the Christian Educators Association. The rules, which would have required public schools to implement policies promoting fluid “gender identity” or risk losing federal funding, were blocked in 26 states by temporary injunctions after taking effect last August.
The association joined six states and a female high school athlete in this case against the federal government to protect the First Amendment rights of educators and educational and athletic opportunities for students.
“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.”
If the Biden Administration’s Title IX rules had been upheld, students who express a gender identity inconsistent with their sex likely would have been given access to sex-specific private places such as restrooms, locker rooms, accommodations on overnight field trips, and athletic teams. The rules would have required educators to address students by names and pronouns inconsistent with their sex. Educators who have sincerely held philosophical and religious objections to these policies could have been forced to violate their consciences or lose their jobs.
In his ruling, Judge Danny Reeves explained 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.”
Christian Educators was represented by 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.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
