Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration over its expansion of federal protections for LGBTQ+ students, contending that the Department of Education exceeded its authority by broadening the scope of a key anti-sex discrimination law.
The lawsuit, filed in Amarillo, Texas, is strategically aimed at a conservative judge known for issuing nationwide injunctions against federal policies. Paxton is seeking to block the enforcement of changes to Title IX, a 1972 law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools.
Biden (Credits NPR)
The lawsuit alleges that the Biden administration violated federal rulemaking procedures in issuing the new rule, which aims to combat discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. The rule is scheduled to take effect in August.
Texas argues that its educational institutions would suffer irreparable harm if the new rules are implemented, as they rely on federal funding and have interpreted “on the basis of sex” to refer to biological sex, not sexual orientation or gender identity.
In response, a Department of Education spokesperson defended the process, stating that it followed a rigorous procedure to uphold the Title IX guarantee of nondiscrimination in federally funded education.
Joe Biden (Credits: CNN)
The Biden administration has been actively working to strengthen protections for the LGBTQ+ community, including recent initiatives to enhance anti-discrimination measures in health care.
The lawsuit underscores the ongoing legal battles over LGBTQ+ rights and highlights the complex interplay between federal and state authorities in shaping policies related to discrimination and equality.
