By COLLIN BINKLEY (AP Education Writer)
The federal government has finalized rules that will safeguard the rights of LGBTQ+ students and provide new protections for victims of campus sexual assault under Title IX, as pledged by President Joe Biden.
The revised Title IX regulation issued by the Education Department dismantles rules created by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, fulfilling a campaign promise by President Biden. created by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who added new protections for students accused of sexual misconduct.
However, Biden’s policy does not mention transgender athletes.
Initially, the administration planned to introduce a new policy preventing schools from implementing outright bans on transgender athletes, but that provision was delayed, seen as a political move during an election year where Republicans have prohibitions on transgender athletes in girls’ sports. forbidding schools from enacting outright bans on transgender athletes, but that provision was put on hold. The delay is widely seen as a political maneuver during an election year in which Republicans have rallied around bans on transgender athletes in girls’ sports.
Instead, Biden is officially repealing sexual assault rules established by his predecessor and current election-year opponent, former President Donald Trump. The final policy received praise from advocates for victims, while Republicans argued that it undermines the rights of accused students.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona stated that the new rule ensures that everyone can attend schools that are safe, welcoming, and respectful of their rights.
Cardona told reporters, “No one should face bullying or discrimination simply because of who they are or who they love. Unfortunately, this occurs all too frequently.”
Biden’s regulation aims to clarify schools’ obligations under Title IX, the 1972 women’s rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education. It applies to colleges and elementary and high schools that receive federal funding. The update is set to take effect in August.
One of the major changes is the acknowledgment that Title IX protects LGBTQ+ students — a point of intense conflict with Republicans.
The 1972 law does not directly address this issue, but the new rules specify that Title IX also prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ+ students who experience discrimination will be entitled to a response from their school under Title IX, and those failed by their schools can seek help from the federal government.
Many Republicans argue that Congress never intended for such protections to be covered under Title IX. Previously, a federal judge blocked Bi