Biden’s Title IX rule blocked by judge in 6 additional states

FRANKFORT, Ky.– A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s new Title IX rule expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students in six additional states, marking another setback for a policy that under legal attack by Republican attorneys general.

U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves called the scheme “arbitrary in the true sense of the word” as he issued a preliminary injunction blocking it in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. His ruling comes days after another federal judge temporarily blocked the new rule will take effect in Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi and Montana.

Monday’s ruling in Kentucky was applauded by Republican Party Attorney General Russell Coleman, who said the ordinance would undermine equal opportunities for women.

“The judge’s order makes clear that the U.S. Department of Education’s attempt to redefine ‘sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ is unlawful and beyond the agency’s regulatory authority,” Coleman said in a statement declaration.

The two cases are among at least seven backed by more than 20 Republican-led states battling President Joe Biden’s administration. The policy, which will take effect in August, extends Title IX civil rights protections to LGBTQ+ students, expands the definition of sexual harassment in schools and colleges and adds safeguards for victims.

In another lawsuit, the Department of Education on Friday asked a federal judge in Missouri to deny a request for a preliminary injunction against the new rule. The lawsuit was filed last month by the Republican attorneys general from Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The department said imposing the rule would “significantly harm the federal government’s interest in preventing discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities.”

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Associated Press writer Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report.