Staff Reports
This week, a group of 18 states run by Republican leaders took legal action against the Biden administration. They disagree with federal advice that supports LGBTQ+ beliefs. The states’ attorneys general claim that the guidance forces employers to support transgender people’s “gender identities.” This would allow transgender individuals to use different names and preferred pronouns, as well as access restrooms that match their gender identity rather than their biological sex.
18 Republican-Led States Just Filed a New Lawsuit Against the (Gone Insane) Biden Administration https://t.co/nQuEEPtzoX
— G Michael Brown (@GMichaelBrown) May 16, 2024
The Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti released a statement expressing his opposition to the federal guidance, saying it goes against the constitutional separation of powers. He argues that federal agencies should not have the authority to make laws, as that power belongs to elected representatives.
Skrmetti led the coalition of the 18 states in the lawsuit. The attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also joined the legal action.
In a separate lawsuit, the Tennessee and Arkansas attorneys general challenged a new Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) policy related to the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA), which aims to ensure pregnant women in the workplace receive accommodations to protect their unborn children and themselves. The lawsuit questions the EEOC’s decision to include abortion accommodations in the rule, arguing that this interpretation does not align with the intended purpose of the PWFA.
The Republican-led states’ legal actions reflect their opposition to what they view as federal overreach and their efforts to protect the rights of employers and challenge the interpretation of laws that they believe do not align with their values.
