A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction blocking the Biden administration from enforcing new federal protections for LGBTQ+ students in four GOP-led states. The injunction, issued by US District Judge Terry Doughty, prevents the implementation of the new protections in Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho, which were set to take effect on August 1.
The judge's order will remain in effect until the states' lawsuit challenging the new changes to Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools receiving federal aid, is resolved or until a higher court permits enforcement of the new rules.
The new protections aim to curb discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. They require schools to protect students from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual violence, sex-based harassment, and discrimination based on pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions such as childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or recovery from pregnancy. Compliance with these rules is necessary to receive federal education aid.
The lawsuit brought by the GOP-led states argues that the Biden administration exceeded its authority in finalizing the new rule. The plaintiffs are seeking to have the rules struck down nationwide.
