On April 29, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he was suing the Biden Administration over Department of Education updates to Title IX regulations. Governor Greg Abbott is supporting the undermining of federal anti-discriminatory laws despite outcry from Texans.
Title IX is a federal civil rights law which protects students in public schools, and “prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance” according to the U.S. Department of Education. The Department of Education follows Supreme Court precedent. The updates to Title IX included explicit protections to students based on their sexual orientation and gender identity.
After Paxton’s announcement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent orders the Texas Education Agency to disregard the updated Title IX regulations. This is not the first time he has spoken out against respecting gender identify.
Their argument insisted the amendment to Title IX was unconstitutional and placed women at risk, an unfounded statement. Ignoring these valuable protections built into the education system would be detrimental to LGBTQ+ youth.
Trans women can enter female-only spaces in schools through Title IX. Refusal to comply with these regulations would result in federal funding being withheld. However, Abbott and Paxton aren’t fond of Biden’s “radical obsession with gender ideology.”
In the lawsuit, Paxton claims, “This attempt to subvert federal law is plainly illegal, undemocratic, and divorced from reality. Texas will always take the lead to oppose Biden’s extremist, destructive policies that put women at risk.”
Many activists have spoken out about the injustice dealt by these Texas authorities.
Here is what Ricardo Martinez, CEO of Equality Texas had to say to Texans Freedom Network:
“Paxton literally wants to delete whole groups of people from the minimum federal non-discrimination protections. Texans know better than most that this country truly is a melting pot. Every day we come into contact with people who live, work, and pray differently than we do. Civil rights laws create a baseline of respect for our fellow Texans that allows us to peacefully exist with our neighbors.”
Carisa Lopez of the Texas Freedom Network also had some striking words:
“It’s a shame to all Texans to see our attorney general sue the Biden administration for expanded protections under Title IX. Paxton claims he is suing to ‘protect women,’ yet he has actively worked to strip women of their reproductive freedoms and right to make personal medical decisions about their own bodies. Paxton’s hypocritical actions demonstrate his disregard for women’s equality and autonomy.”
Despite Governor Greg Abbott’s and Attorney General Ken Paxton’s attempts to undermine federal anti-discriminatory laws, Texans have made their stands and are speaking up for the LGBTQ+ students who would be impacted by these refusal to abide by Title IX regulations.
