Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, celebrated a recent court ruling by a federal judge that blocked the Biden Administration from enforcing their updated Title IX policy in Texas schools.
The U.S. Department of Education revised Title IX in April to include protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, benefiting LGBTQ+ individuals. Title IX, a part of the 1972 Amendment, aims to prevent discrimination in schools receiving federal funding.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other conservatives opposed these changes and vowed not to comply with the new standards set by President Biden.
In a surprising move, former President George W. Bush supported Texas in this legal battle. Paxton hailed the court’s decision as a significant win for the state.
Paxton criticized Biden’s attempt to leverage Title IX for his agenda, emphasizing that it was an illegal move that endangered women. The court’s ruling was seen as a victory not just for Texas but for the whole nation.
The court found the revised Title IX policies to be illegal and blocked their enforcement in Texas schools. This ruling doesn’t strip any student of their rights but emphasizes that the Department must comply with Title IX standards.
This fight against Title IX changes is part of a broader trend in Republican-led states that are passing laws addressing LGBTQ+ issues in schools. For instance, Florida passed the Don’t Say Gay bill in March 2020.
According to the Movement Advancement Project, 24 states have restrictions on transgender students’ participation in sports according to their gender identity. Additionally, 15 states have policies that negatively impact the LGBTQ+ community across various categories such as nondiscrimination, health care, and more.