Title IX was enacted in 1972 to protect the rights of girls and women by prohibiting sex-based discrimination. On June 23rd, the U.S. Department of Education released its proposed changes to Title IX regulations. As described by Independent Women's Law Center, these changes would "vastly expand the categories of speech that it expects schools to punish as discriminatory sexual harassment under Title IX." You may be wondering how this will impact your children and the schools in your community. The Defense of Freedom Institute has described that the changes will:
"Endanger women’s and girls’ sports"
"Threaten free speech and academic freedom at institutions of higher education"
"Erode due process in Title IX investigations and adjudications and return colleges and universities to the days of “kangaroo courts” and secret inquiries"
"Undermine parental rights by requiring public elementary and secondary schools to affirm a child’s gender identity without the approval or knowledge of his or her parents"
You can act now to share your comments with the Department of Education. They are accepting public comments on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking until Monday, September 12, which can be submitted here:
by Jennifer C. Braceras and Heather Madden
This informative guide, by Independent Women's Law Center, includes history and background while also helping us to understand why this is so important.