Florida and Oklahoma Reject Biden Admin’s Rule Letting Men into Women’s Bathrooms and Sports
Florida and Oklahoma are refusing to implement the Biden administration’s radical rewrite of Title IX that permits men to freely access women’s locker rooms, bathrooms and sports.
As background information, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) announced a new “Final Rule under Title IX” on April 19 that redefines “sex” in federal law to include “gender identity.”
Title IX – enacted as a part of the Education Amendments of 1972 – is intended to protect people from discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal funds. Title IX has succeeded in greatly increasing educational and athletic opportunities for women since it was enacted.
Title IX states:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
But the DOE’s new rule redefining “sex” to include “gender identity” defeats the purpose of Title IX entirely. It means that any educational institution that receives federal funding (i.e. public schools, colleges, and some private schools) must permit men to access women’s bathrooms, locker rooms, and sports – under threat from the full legal might of the federal government.
In response to the DOE’s new rule, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters directed all school districts in the state not to comply with the Title IX rewrite.
“This re-definition could prohibit single-sex extra-curriculars, including athletics, scholarship programs, locker rooms, bathrooms, and any other activity or space that is exclusive to one sex,” Superintendent Walters wrote. “Additionally, these rules could turn the act of not using preferred pronouns into a Title IX violation, which would be a clear violation of the First Amendment.”
The superintendent added,
I believe these rule changes are illegal and unconstitutional. … Please do not make any district policy changes based on the new Title IX regulations.
NEW: Oklahoma schools chief @RyanWaltersSupt has directed all districts not to comply with Biden's Title IX rewrite, telling @dcexaminer Biden is "eradicating women’s rights and putting women in danger."
MORE: https://t.co/gDg8ptBYD4 pic.twitter.com/TZ4OENv0Dr
— Breccan F. Thies (@BreccanFThies) April 24, 2024
Superintendent Walters also held a press conference announcing his directive to local districts; he said the DOE’s rewrite of Title IX is “one of the most illegal and radical moves we have ever seen from the Federal Government.”
Biden's re-write of Title IX is one of the most illegal and radical moves we have ever seen from the Federal Government. Oklahoma will not sit idly by while radicals trample on the Constitution and take away women's rights. We are taking swift and aggressive action against Biden… pic.twitter.com/ybcG9bDApQ
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) April 25, 2024
Likewise, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. issued a similar directive to local school districts.
“The rule will not take effect until August 1, 2024. Florida will fight this,” Commissioner Diaz, Jr. said. “At Governor Ron DeSantis’ direction, no education institution should begin implementing any changes.”
He added:
Instead of implementing Congress’s clear directive to prevent discrimination based on biological sex, the Biden Administration maims the statute beyond recognition in an attempt to gaslight the country into believing that biological sex no longer has any meaning.
In Florida, we respect parents’ rights to direct their children’s education. We protect our students’ safety and privacy. And we make sure every student is given the chance to thrive on and off campus. We will keep pressing to accomplish these goals.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statement saying that state of Florida will “not comply” with the DOE’s rewrite of Title IX.
Florida’s response to Joe Biden trying to inject gender ideology into education, undermining opportunities for girls and women, violating parents' rights, and abusing his constitutional authority:
We will not comply. pic.twitter.com/12pnpOU68Z
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 25, 2024
The DOE’s intentionally pernicious rewrite of Title IX – in effect erasing “woman” as a protective category by deferring to any male who claims a female “identity” – is far-reaching and radical. It would greatly affect practically every student in the nation and change their lives in a very personal way.
That’s why its greatly encouraging to see state officials push back against the DOE’s dictates. Hopefully more will follow suit.
Consider making your voice heard by letting your representative know you oppose the Department of Education’s Final Rule under Title IX and encouraging them to hold the DOE accountable.
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Related articles and resources:
New Biden Admin. Rule Lets Men into Women’s Locker Rooms, Bathrooms and Sports
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
Riley Gaines, Fourth-Wave Feminism and the Battle for Women’s Sports
Pro-family Groups Warn Department of Education Not to Ruin Women’s Sports
NAIA Bans Males From Competing in Women’s Sports
Where Are the Dads Protecting Their Daughters From Dangerous Male Athletes?
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zachary Mettler is a writer/analyst for the Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Mettler earned his Bachelor’s degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. In addition to the Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in the Daily Wire, the Washington Times, the Washington Examiner, Newsweek, Townhall, the Daily Signal, the Christian Post, Charisma News and other outlets.