Latest news with #TitleIXRule
Fox News
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Indiana governor bans trans athletes in women's sports, honors SJSU athlete who alleges lost scholarship
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order Tuesday to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's college sports. He was joined by former San Jose State University volleyball player Elle Patterson, who claims she lost out on a scholarship to a trans athlete. Braun said his order ensures fairness in women's sports in a news release. "Women's sports create opportunities for young women to earn scholarships and develop leadership skills," Braun said. "Hoosiers overwhelmingly don't want those opportunities destroyed by allowing biological males to compete in women's sports, and today's executive order will make sure of that." The order states, "This executive order mandates that Indiana's state educational institutions must comply with the 2020 Title IX Rule rather than the 2024 Biden Administration reinterpretation that extended protections based on self-reported, ever-changing new idea of 'gender identity.' "The order ensures that female athletes in college sports are not forced to compete against biological males, preserving the integrity of women's athletics and protecting opportunities for women in female-only sports leagues." Braun then signed another executive order that "rejects extreme gender ideology in favor of the scientific reality of biological sex" by reinforcing Indiana's legal definitions for "sex," "gender," "women," "male," "citizen," "individual" and "person." "Today's executive order will end any confusion about our state's policy on this issue so we can focus on my goal to secure freedom and opportunity for all Hoosiers," Braun said after signing the second order. Braun honored Patterson during the signing. Patterson joined a lawsuit against SJSU and the Mountain West Conference in November with 10 other conference players and one former assistant coach over its handling of transgender player Blaire Fleming. Patterson alleges the university did not fulfill previous verbal offers of a scholarship to her for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Patterson says she even paid full tuition to play in 2023 after being told she would get a scholarship for 2024. However, the program did not make good on that offer either, she alleges, while Fleming got a full scholarship. "Ultimately, Patterson informed Associate Head Coach Batie-Smoose and Head Coach Todd Kress that she was financially unable to pay for full out-of-state tuition, room and board at SJSU again in 2024 and therefore would be unable to return to the SJSU Team without a scholarship," the documents state. "Nevertheless, Todd Kress remained firm in his position that Patterson would not receive a scholarship to play on the SJSU Team in 2024, and that Fleming would receive a full scholarship to play on the SJSU Team." Braun expressed sympathy for Patterson during his address Tuesday. "It's just wrong, and leaders need to stand up for young women like Elle," Braun said. "We need to protect their physical safety and the great opportunities that come with that athletic excellence." The order comes just one day after the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. Despite getting 51 votes by the Republican majority, Democrats filibustered the bill with 45 votes against it. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women's sports Feb. 5. However, some Democrat-led states have so far refused to comply with the order. Braun has taken steps to ensure that does not happen in his state, joining Idaho Gov. Brad Little, who signed a similar executive order in August. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Indiana governor signs executive orders aimed at ‘extreme gender ideology'
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun discusses two new executive orders at a news conference on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Two executive orders signed Tuesday by Gov. Mike Braun sought to reinforce prohibitions for collegiate transgender athletes. The Republican governor said the orders intend to 'protect women's sports' and 'make clear that Indiana does not endorse the gender ideology that has put women's sports in danger.' 'Women's sports creates many opportunities for young women. Allowing biological men to compete against women in female-only sports destroys those opportunities,' Braun said at a news conference. 'Hoosiers overwhelmingly agree that they don't want men competing in women's sports.' One of the orders requires Indiana's Commission for Higher Education (CHE) to review policies at the state's colleges and universities 'to ensure compliance' with the state's educational institutions must comply with the 2020 Title IX Rule, rather than former President Joe Biden's 2024 rule that extended protections protections to transgender student athletes. CHE must complete the review by Sept. 30 and publish a written report by Dec. 31. President Donald Trump signed an executive order last month to ban transgender girls and women from participating in girls' sports. The Indianapolis-based NCAA has since issued a new policy that no longer allows transgender women to compete in women's college sports. Hoosiers overwhelmingly agree that they don't want men competing in women's sports. – Indiana Gov. Mike Braun Legislation barring transgender women from playing on collegiate women's sports teams is also advancing in the legislature. House Bill 1041 would require all sports teams at Indiana's public and private higher educational institutions to be either male, female or coeducational. Athletes assigned male at birth would be barred from participating in a 'female, women's, or girls' team or sport.' Colleges and universities would have to establish grievance procedures, and students who are 'deprived of an athletic opportunity' or are injured as a result of violations would be able to file civil lawsuits. Lawmakers approved a separate bill in 2022 to ban transgender girls from participating in K-12 sports. Braun said his order 'wasn't done to dovetail any particular piece of legislation,' but rather 'was to put out a clear statement on where we stand as a state,' and guarantees that Indiana's prohibitions remain in place — given that NCAA and federal policies can 'ebb and flow.' A second executive order reiterates that state agencies must 'adhere' to definitions for 'sex,' 'gender,' 'women,' 'male,' 'citizen,' 'individual' and 'person' that are already in code. It additionally bars the use of state funds 'to promote gender ideology,' and directs agencies to 'avoid using terms that obfuscate the fundamental, deeply rooted legal distinction between men and women,' including phrases like 'chest feeding,' 'birthing persons,' 'men with periods,' and 'people who menstruate.' When asked if Hoosiers can still petition a judge to change the gender on their birth certificate, Brun said 'that would probably have to be determined by the courts.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Fox News
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
I'm a runner and I know the race to save women's sports has started off great
I'm a runner — and runners know the value of a good start. Lots of races are decided by those first steps out of the blocks — and whether they're fast enough and strong enough to propel you toward that line at the far end of the track. In January, federal officials took the first four steps in the race to reverse Biden administration efforts to insert male athletes into women's sports. TITLE IX COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST RIT FOR ROSTERING TRANS ATHLETE SADIE SCHREINER Step One: On Jan. 9, a federal district court issued a decision vacating the 2024 Title IX Rule. That rule had directed all states to reinterpret the meaning of "sex" in Title IX — a federal law created to ensure equal opportunities for women in education and athletics — to include "gender identity." Step Two: On Jan. 14, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would prevent schools accepting federal funding from allowing male athletes to compete in women's sports ... or ris losing that funding. Step Three: On Jan. 31, the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights announced it now expects schools to stick with the earlier 2020 Title IX Rule, which honors the original intent of that law by defining sex according to biology, not gender identity. Step Four: On Feb. 5, the Trump administration took a strong and crucial step toward restoring women's sports to women with his latest executive order directing federal officials to prohibit male athletes from competing in women's sports or entering women's locker rooms. And, the next day, the NCAA — finally — changed its policy on this and now only allows women to compete in women's categories, another stride toward achieving fairness for female athletes. Why do I describe these efforts as a race? Because every day we delay in making this right means another competition, somewhere, where a girl or woman athlete could be losing to a man. Losing an award ... losing recognition ... losing an opportunity ... losing the fair return for all her hard work, time, and sacrifice. I know. I'm one of those women. Across four years of high school, I raced against male athletes 27 times. I lost places and podium spots on 22 occasions. I lost two major regional awards. I lost four state championship titles at an age when college recruiters were watching and deciding who would get scholarships. My teammates and I watched two male athletes sweep our events, season after season, winning 15 state championship titles once held by nine different women. Eighty-five times they blocked female runners from opportunities to advance in competition. Not only was that not fair — it hurt. My teammates and I had dedicated countless long hours to our sport. We kept to strict diets and missed out on a lot of family and social activities to get to bed early, all for the sake of competing, and winning, and earning scholarships to the schools we hoped to go to someday. It's tough, stepping up time after time to the starting line, knowing that, no matter how hard you try, you're going to lose to the guy in the lane next to you. And that, each time you lose, your dreams drift a little further out of reach. It's no wonder that we pushed back, speaking up and speaking out for what was right and fair. Yet every time we did, we were branded as bigots and haters. Coaches, administrators and many in the media turned a deaf ear to our concerns. That's why four of us, with the help of Alliance Defending Freedom, decided to file suit against the Connecticut Association of Schools, for refusing to protect us from these intrusions by male athletes. That case was recently given the green light to be heard in federal court. CLICK HERE FOR MORE FOX NEWS OPINION But in a strong race, you have to keep making great strides. And those strides are being made. Why do I describe these efforts as a race? Because every day we delay in making this right means another competition, somewhere, where a girl or woman athlete could be losing to a man. With the help of courageous high-profile athletes like Riley Gaines, the media are gradually waking up and realizing the great injustices being done to women — the threats being posed not only to our freedom and opportunities, but our safety as well. And now two other cases in which ADF is defending Title IX's original meaning from lawsuits by activist groups are making their way, I hope, toward the U.S. Supreme Court. We're moving fast in the right direction, and with the aggressive support of the Trump administration, my fellow athletes and I are more confident than we've been in a long time that women's sports may soon, once again, be reserved for — and restored to — women. If the U.S. Senate will follow the House's lead ... if the U.S. Supreme Court will hear and decide the true meaning of "sex" in Title IX ... if President Donald Trump can effectively use his bully pulpit to rally wide support to our cause ... and if the NCAA will expand its policy to more fully protect female athletes during and outside of competitions, and other sports organizations will do the same ... CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP ... this race may be headed for a victorious finish. And that's good. First steps are important, but in the long run — it's the finish that matters most of all.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Byron Public Schools prepares to revert to previous Title IX policy without reference to gender identity
Feb. 4—BYRON, Minn. — In the wake of changes on the national stage, Byron Public Schools is getting ready to revert to an earlier version of its Title IX policy that would eliminate certain definitions related to the LGBTQ+ community. The district's School Board discussed the issue on Monday, Feb. 3. A vote on the change is expected at a future meeting. The version of the policy the district is reverting to doesn't include specific references to sexual orientation or gender identity. Leading up to the conversation about the policy change, School Board member Alisha Eiken read a statement about her support for students who could be impacted. "I know we have families and students who are feeling unsafe as our federal laws change," Eiken said. "Regardless of how our federal laws change over the coming months and years, our district is committed to all students' safety and well-being. To all of our students, and especially our trans and nonbinary students, you are loved, and you are needed, and you are a very valuable part of our district." The change would be a quick turnaround, as Byron Public Schools approved the most recent version of the policy in December. The policy currently states the district "does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity." The version of the policy that the district will revert to states "the school district does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education or activities." It does not reference anything related to sexual orientation or gender identity. The current version of the policy is 29 pages long. The version the district will go back to is 19 pages. Superintendent Mike Neubeck said he had spoken about the policy earlier that day with the district's legal counsel. Neubeck said the district is obligated to change the policy since the current version of the federal Title IX rule, which the district's policy is based on, is no longer valid. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the U.S. Department of Education released a statement to further elaborate on the situation. According to the statement, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky "issued a decision that vacated the entirety of the 2024 Title IX Rule nationwide." The statement from the Department of Education also cited President Donald Trump's executive order titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." The statement went on to say that the Department of Education "must enforce Title IX consistent with President Trump's Order." Eiken asked if the district could amend other policies to protect students in light of the fact that its Title IX policy will no longer have that specific language. In response, Board member David Wernimont clarified that the district's policy on harassment, violence and bullying already includes language referring to sexual orientation and gender identity and that it wouldn't need to be amended further because of that. The conversation about updating the district's policies came amid even larger changes in the national news. On Monday, the same day as Byron Public Schools' meeting, multiple media outlets began reporting that President Trump was weighing a decision to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education entirely.
Chicago Tribune
31-01-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
US colleges returning to campus sexual assault rules created during Donald Trump's first term
WASHINGTON — Schools and universities responding to complaints of sexual misconduct must return to policies created during President Donald Trump's first term, with requirements for live hearings and more protections for accused students, according to new guidance issued Friday by the Education Department. In a memo to education institutions across the nation, the agency clarified that Title IX, a 1972 law barring discrimination based on sex, will be enforced according to a set of rules created by former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. The rules govern how complaints of misconduct are investigated and how to settle cases where students present differing accounts. Colleges already have been returning to DeVos' 2020 rules in recent weeks since a federal judge in Kentucky overturned the Biden administration's Title IX rules. The court's decision effectively ordered a return to the earlier Trump administration rules. A statement from the Education Department called Biden's rules an 'egregious slight to women and girls.' 'Under the Trump Administration, the Education Department will champion equal opportunity for all Americans, including women and girls, by protecting their right to safe and separate facilities and activities in schools, colleges and universities,' said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. The Biden administration sought to overhaul the rules and expand Title IX to protect LGBTQ+ students. It expanded the type of behavior that's considered sexual harassment — a reversal of the DeVos policy, which used a narrower definition. But a federal judge in Kentucky overturned Biden's rule on Jan. 9, saying it was a presidential overstep and violated constitutional free speech rights by telling schools to honor students' preferred pronouns. The judge, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves, said there was nothing in Title IX suggesting it should cover anything more than it did when Congress created it. Even before the decision, Biden's rule had been halted in half the states amid legal challenges from Republicans. The full text of the Title IX law is just 37 words long, but the federal government has added rules over the years explaining how it's interpreted. DeVos' policy adds 500 pages detailing how schools must address complaints and how the Education Department makes sure schools comply. Already, the Trump administration has taken a hard turn on its enforcement of Title IX: On Tuesday the Education Department said it opened an investigation into Denver schools after the district converted a girl's restroom into an all-gender restroom while leaving another bathroom exclusive to boys. The new memo says even investigations that started when Biden's rules were in effect 'should be immediately reoriented to comport fully with the requirements of the 2020 Title IX Rule.' The change was celebrated by advocates who said Biden's rules did too little to protect accused students. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression said the 2020 rules will ensure fairness, highlighting a requirement that both parties be able to have a lawyer at campus hearings and to review all evidence. 'The return to the 2020 rules ensures that all students — whether they are the accused or the accuser — will receive fair treatment and important procedural safeguards,' said Tyler Coward, lead counsel for government affairs at FIRE. Victims' rights groups called it a step backward that will deter students from reporting assaults. 'Schools must step up to protect students in the absence of adequate federal guidance,' said Emma Grasso Levine, senior manager of Title IX policy and programs at Know Your IX, a student-led group. Among the most controversial elements of DeVos' policy is a requirement to hold live hearings where accused students can cross-examine their accusers through an adviser. The Biden rule had eliminated the requirement and made live hearings optional, though some courts had previously upheld an accused student's right to cross examination. More broadly, the 2020 policy narrows the definition of sexual harassment and the scope of cases that schools must address. It also reduces the liability for colleges, holding them responsible only if they acted with 'deliberate indifference.' Trump's new pick for education secretary is Linda McMahon, a longtime Trump ally known for building the World Wrestling Entertainment professional wrestling empire with her husband, Vince McMahon. Her Senate confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled.
