A federal judge in Louisiana has issued a preliminary injunction preventing the Biden administration from enforcing new Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students in four Republican-led states: Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, and Idaho. The ruling, made by U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty on Thursday, 13 June 2024, will delay the implementation of the protections, which were set to take effect on August 1, 2024.
These new regulations under Title IX, a federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools, aim to extend protections against discrimination to include gender identity, sexual orientation, and sex characteristics. The rules also cover discrimination related to pregnancy and related conditions, such as childbirth, termination of pregnancy, and recovery from pregnancy.
Judge Doughty, appointed by former President Donald Trump, ruled in favor of the four states’ attorneys general, who argue that the Biden administration overstepped its authority and that the new regulations are inconsistent with the original text and purpose of Title IX. The injunction will remain in place until the lawsuit is resolved or a higher court permits the enforcement of the new rules. The Department of Education has not yet commented on Judge Doughty’s ruling.