The Biden administration’s Title IX rules expanding protections for LGBTQ students have been struck down nationwide after a federal judge in Kentucky found they overstepped the president’s authority.
The decision was issued by US District Judge Danny C. Reeves, who scrapped the entire 1500-page regulation after identifying legal shortcomings.
Driving the news: The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- Last year, the Biden administration finalized controversial rules expanding Title IX to protect against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
- The rules were seen as a victory by civil rights advocates but drew backlash from conservatives who feared it would affect transgender athletes in sports.
The big picture: Judge Reeves found that the Education Department overstepped its authority by expanding the scope of Title IX through the new rules.
- He emphasized that the rules violated free speech rights by requiring teachers to use pronouns based on a student’s gender identity.
- The decision to reverse the rules means a return to the status quo prior to the effective date, reverting to the interpretation of Title IX that existed for more than 50 years.
