Protect gender non-conforming students. That's what Title IX demands
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded schools. Recent legal interpretations, including Bostock v. Clayton County (2020), have made it clear that this includes gender identity and expression. Yet, enforcement remains patchy and inconsistent, and schools too often resort to silence instead of safety.
More: Cincinnati-area trans people, families 'exhausted' from Trump orders against them
According to GLSEN, an education organization working to end discrimination, harassment, and bullying based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, 71.6% of gender non-conforming students report being verbally harassed because of their gender expression. These students are not safe, and they know it. Title IX, originally passed to ensure educational equity, must be enforced to protect all students, including those who challenge gender norms.
We need the U.S. Department of Education to strengthen enforcement and training, Congress to stand firm against rollbacks, and, above all, the public to understand that this isn't about politics. It's about giving every child the freedom to learn without fear, no matter who they are or how they dress.
More: University of Cincinnati's 'biological' bathroom signs removed. 'Error' cost $16K
No student should be punished for refusing to fit into someone else's story.
Elisabeth Sebastian, Fort Wright, Ky.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Title IX means nothing if schools ignore gender identity | Letter
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Newsweek
8 hours ago
- Newsweek
Boeing Strike Begins Monday After Negotiations Fail
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. More than 3,200 Boeing defense workers are set to begin striking Monday, August 4, after overwhelmingly rejecting a contract proposal that included a 20 percent wage increase over four years. Newsweek reached out to International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 837 via email on Sunday for comment. Why It Matters This latest action represents the first strike in nearly three decades at Boeing's St. Louis-area defense factories, with the union's last work stoppage occurring in 1996 and lasting 99 days, according to Bloomberg. The strike also adds to Boeing's mounting challenges amid ongoing safety concerns and production issues that have severely damaged the company's reputation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated in March that Boeing had lost the trust of the American people following a mid-air panel blowout on an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9, two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people, and a recent Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash in India that killed 260 people. The work stoppage will directly impact production of the F-47 fighter jet, part of the Next Generation Air Dominance program designed to replace the F-22 Raptor. Boeing won this critical contract earlier this year, with the company expanding its St. Louis manufacturing facilities to accommodate the sixth-generation fighter program. What To Know Members of the IAM District 837 voted down Boeing's offer on Sunday, August 3, following the expiration of their current contract at 11:59 p.m. CT, according to a press release from the union. This latest vote follows members' rejection of Boeing's earlier proposal on Sunday, July 27. The impending walkout will affect three facilities in St. Louis, St. Charles, Missouri, and Mascoutah, Illinois, where workers assemble critical military aircraft, including F-15 fighters, F/A-18 Super Hornets, and components for the advanced F-47 fighter jet program. Despite union leaders initially recommending approval of what they called a "landmark" agreement, District 837 members rejected Boeing's offer. The proposal included the 20 percent wage increase, improved medical benefits, enhanced pension provisions, and better overtime benefits. Boeing characterized this as "the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities." The Boeing Air Dominance division produces several military aircraft, including the U.S. Navy's Super Hornet and the Air Force's Red Hawk training aircraft. A strike late last year by machinists' union members put a heavy toll on the company, compounding existing production issues and stalling manufacturing of key aircraft including the 737 MAX, 767, and 777 models. The union implemented a seven-day "cooling off" period following the contract's expiration, delaying strike action until August 4. This procedural step is standard in labor negotiations to provide additional time for potential last-minute agreements. What People Are Saying Boeing Air Dominance Vice President Dan Gillian said in a statement: "We're disappointed that Boeing employees voted down the richest contract offer we've ever presented to IAM 837 which addressed all their stated priorities. We've activated our contingency plan and are focused on preparing for a strike. No talks are scheduled with the union." IAM District 837 Directing Business Representative Tom Boelling said in a statement: "IAM District 837 members have spoken loud and clear, they deserve a contract that reflects their skill, dedication, and the critical role they play in our nation's defense." IAM International President Brian Bryant said in a statement: "Our union is built on democracy, and our members have every right to demand a contract worthy of their contributions. We will be there on the picket lines, ensuring Boeing hears the collective power of working people." IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett said in a statement: "Solidarity is our strength. This vote shows that when workers stand together, they can push back against corporate greed and fight for a better future for themselves and their families. We are proud to back our members every step of the way." IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Sam Cicinelli said in a statement: "IAM District 837 members build the aircraft and defense systems that keep our country safe. They deserve nothing less than a contract that keeps their families secure and recognizes their unmatched expertise." Pro-union stickers are pictured on a pole outside the Boeing Renton Production Facility one day before striking union members will vote on a new contract offer in Renton, Washington on November 3, 2024. Pro-union stickers are pictured on a pole outside the Boeing Renton Production Facility one day before striking union members will vote on a new contract offer in Renton, Washington on November 3, 2024. JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images What Happens Next? Boeing has activated contingency plans and stated no additional talks are scheduled with the union. The company faces pressure to resolve the dispute quickly to avoid delays in critical defense programs, particularly the F-47 production timeline. The duration of the strike will likely depend on whether Boeing offers additional concessions beyond the substantial wage and benefit improvements already proposed.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
What happened downtown was racial violence, and we must say it
This has been a long week for Cincinnati. We all know why. We've all seen it. You can't unsee it. You can't unsee a woman being knocked out like that, her head jerking back, her body lying motionless on the pavement, her eyes staring up in lifeless, mute horror. And in our city. Like many people, I'm trying to process this event and find it difficult. When I first saw the video on July 27, I found it horrifying. It's so bad you might as well say it was choreographed by the devil. And yet I also thought it would receive brief local attention before people moved on. News cycles are very short these days. But as the week has gone by, as this story has been picked up by the national news, especially conservative news outlets, I'm starting to think this will not be a short ordeal for our city. It's starting to feel like an event that will force a reckoning. But what should that reckoning be? More: 'There are 2 sides to every story': Cincinnati grapples with image after brawl | Letters Certain things must be said. For one, this was clearly racially motivated violence in an extreme form. Anybody who balks at that admission is not being honest. The crowd of Black people who beat up the white people engaged in racial violence. It must also be said that the white guy at the center of the fight is culpable for drunkenly contributing to the fight and potentially committing the first aggression. That must be acknowledged and condemned. How does a city come to terms with racially motivated violence? It's a hard conversation to have. Vivek Ramaswamy evidently feels up to the task and is coming to town to try. I'm skeptical whether a politician in the middle of an election can bring the nuance and honesty necessary to have a productive conversation on such a fraught topic. There's a possibility he's just coming to make political hay of violence in an all-Democrat-run city. More: Ramaswamy has chosen Jim & Jack's for his town hall But I'm encouraged that Ramaswamy is teaming up with former Cincinnati councilman Christopher Smitherman for the town hall, a man with an admirable record as a moderate local politician. I'm hoping Ramaswamy makes an honest effort to move the conversation forward. One local politician who is not helping to move the conversation forward is Councilwoman Victoria Parks. After the video of the fight circulated, Parks tagged it with the response, "They begged for that beat down! I am grateful for the whole story."Let's be plain. That is a nasty, racist statement. There is no excuse for that kind of behavior, least of all by someone in a place of authority. Parks is not fit to be on City Council. She is not seeking re-election and plans to leave office at the end of the year, but she shouldn't be allowed on the council for another day, let alone another five months. Parks must resign now. More: Victoria Parks stands by controversial post as fellow council members condemn comments As a Cincinnatian, I am saddened by everything having to do with this fight. It's painful to see Cincinnati getting the worst national press in a generation. This should not be what America thinks when it thinks about our city. The city will be facing significant national scrutiny. Some are calling for Justice Department intervention. It would be unfortunate if we became a scapegoat for the Trump administration's campaign against local Democratic control, but that should not prevent us from admitting we have a real problem. This fight was not something that occurred in isolation. It was a lurid reminder of the stubbornly high rates of violence Cincinnati has experienced, even as most major metro areas have seen significant declines in the last two years. More: City leaders say crime is 'stabilizing' as criminals take notice of new police task force It's up to city leaders to find solutions. The biggest deterrent against violent crime is policing, and the Cincinnati Police Department's ranks have grown perilously thin recently. City Council has made a real financial commitment to increasing the number of police, but only time will tell if this is enough. Despite all this, I take encouragement from the conviction that the vast majority of us, regardless of race, would never act like the people in that video. Cincinnati is still a great city, with great people. I hope that we emerge from this reckoning with stronger unity and a commitment to making our city safer and more welcoming than ever before. That is the Cincinnati I know and love. Christopher Wood is a neurologist who lives in Clifton. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati is facing a reckoning after the Downtown brawl | Opinion
Fox News
a day ago
- Fox News
Video of racial slur yelled during the brutal Cincinnati beatdown emerges
New footage showing the racial slur that was shouted during the brutal beatdown in Cincinnati, Ohio, last weekend has emerged. In the video, someone can be heard yelling the N-word as the violence begins to unfold, though it is unclear who exactly said it and to whom it was directed. Attorney Brandon Fox, who represents defendant Jermaine Matthews, told Fox News' CB Cotton that "it was not a Black, racist mob attacking people. These were separate fights that were triggered by racial slurs that ultimately poured gasoline on the fire." Fox also said that his client was not involved in smaller fights, but rather was trying to break them up. Matthews only got involved when he was slapped by a "taller White man," according to Fox. Matthews is facing charges of aggravated riot and assault, and his bond was set at $100,000 on Wednesday, according to FOX 19. However, he returned to court on Thursday where he faced two new counts of felonious assault and one for misdemeanor assault. According to FOX 19, the judge then set new bonds that pushed the total to $270,000. Attempts to de-escalate the fight, such as one man yelling at an assailant that the victim was 62 years old, did not seem to bring down tensions. One woman, identified as Holly, was knocked unconscious in the incident that took place between Elm and Fourth Streets. The city has been roundly criticized this week over its handling of the brawl, which set the internet ablaze. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval responded publicly late Monday, after the beating had been circulated for about 36 hours. He had been on vacation in Canada and announced plans to cut it short and return to the city on Thursday. "Let me be clear, there is no place for violent crime in Cincinnati, whether it's fight or gun violence, we will pursue those responsible and we will hold them accountable no matter who they are, period," Pureval said at a news conference on Friday. Additionally, a city councilwoman, Victoria Parks, is also facing public scrutiny after she said on Facebook that the victims of the attack "begged for that beat down!" Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge later revealed that out of the approximately 100 people who witnessed the incident or were involved in the fight, only one called law enforcement. "Trust me when I say this, had the Cincinnati Police Department been notified in real time, our officers would have responded with urgency and force to protect life," Theetge said at the news conference on Friday. So far, four arrests have been made in connection to the brawl. In addition to Matthews and Merriweather, Dekyra Vernon and Dominique Kittle have also been arrested and are facing charges. Merriweather is facing one count of felonious assault, one count of misdemeanor assault and one count of aggravated rioting. His bond has been set at $500k total. Vernon is also facing charges of felonious assault, misdemeanor assault and aggravated rioting, but her bond was set at $200k. While Matthews' attorney claims his client did not know Merriweather, detectives said in court earlier this week that the two coordinated with each other. Meanwhile, Kittle, who is charged with aggravated rioting and misdemeanor assault, had his first court appearance on Saturday. His bond was set at $150k. Additionally, his attorney said on the record that Kittle suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.
