Texas Governor Abbott refuses to make changes to Title IX on gender, despite Biden’s request.
Recently, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made headlines by announcing that his state will not be implementing changes to Title IX protections as propagated by President Biden’s administration. In a letter sent to the White House, Abbott strongly rebuked the administration’s expansion of Title IX protections to include “gender identity.”
In his letter, Abbott reiterated the original intent of Title IX, stating that it was designed by Congress to support the academic and athletic advancement of women. He emphasized that the law was based on the fundamental premise of binary sexes – male and female. Abbott raised concerns that the Biden administration’s modifications would force schools to treat boys as if they were girls and accept every student’s self-declared gender identity, which he deemed as an overstep of authority.
The Biden administration had unveiled the new rules earlier in the month to address concerns raised by LGBTQ+ groups regarding gender identity protections. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of ensuring that no individual faces discrimination or bullying based on their identity or whom they love.
Interestingly, the unveiled rule changes also reversed regulations put in place by former Trump Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that guaranteed due process for individuals accused of misconduct. Abbott’s letter explicitly declined to comply with the updated federal protections, specifically focusing on the extension to cover “gender identity,” which he deemed an unlawful overreach that would be contested in court.
Abbott’s letter also highlighted the potential impact on women’s sports, stating that the rewrite of Title IX not only exceeded the President’s constitutional authority but also contravened laws enacted to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports by prohibiting men from competing against female athletes. Texas, under Abbott’s leadership, expressed its commitment to upholding these laws and challenging what was perceived as an abuse of authority by the administration.
Texas is not alone in its opposition to the Title IX updates. State officials from Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, and other states have indicated their intentions to legally challenge the federal government’s implementation of these protections. Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has taken the proactive step of filing a lawsuit against the Biden administration, accusing the White House of dismantling sensible provisions that protect female athletes.
Joining forces with Georgia, state attorneys general from Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida have also lent their support to the legal battle against the revised Title IX protections. The pushback from these state officials reflects a broader resistance to what is perceived as federal overreach and a threat to the fairness and integrity of women’s sports.
Overall, the clash between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and the Biden administration over Title IX protections underscores the complex legal, social, and political dynamics at play. As this issue continues to unfold, it will be interesting to see how different states navigate their positions and advocate for their respective interpretations of Title IX and gender identity protections.
