Staff Reports
Republican-led states, from Oklahoma to Florida, are pushing back against President Joe Biden’s changes to Title IX rules for women’s education. Biden’s Department of Education recently expanded the definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity and pregnancy, undoing Trump-era rules that required stronger evidence for sexual misconduct cases and protected the rights of the accused.
Oklahoma schools Superintendent Ryan Walters, a Republican, criticized the federal government’s interference in Title IX, accusing
Biden of overstepping by imposing policies such as allowing boys in girls’ sports and bathrooms. Walters declared that Oklahoma will not comply with the new rules and is prepared to take legal action against the Biden administration, emphasizing the state’s commitment to fighting back in the courts.
#EXCLUSIVE — Oklahoma schools chief @RyanWaltersSupt directs all districts not to comply with Biden’s Title IX overhaul https://t.co/C7DQJkOR5R pic.twitter.com/J7Kgzd2VXt
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) April 24, 2024
Similarly, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vowed that Florida will not adhere to the redefined Title IX guidelines, asserting that Biden should not be allowed to introduce men into women’s activities or undermine parental rights. The Education Department has warned that public schools failing to comply could lose federal funding.
Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley denounced the new Title IX rules, arguing that they put students at risk and undermine equal opportunities for females. He instructed school districts in Louisiana not to follow the revised regulations, maintaining his firm opposition to the changes.
REJECTED: "Florida rejects Joe Biden's attempt to rewrite Title IX," Governor Ron DeSantis on the recent overhaul by the Biden administration. MORE: https://t.co/m2LaD4DeQo pic.twitter.com/QF4ReYl2BO
— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) April 25, 2024
In South Carolina, Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver, another Republican, advised districts to disregard the updated Title IX definition, emphasizing that students should not be used for political agendas. Weaver vowed to defend the dignity of every individual while rejecting attempts to redefine biological reality through bureaucratic mandates.
Conservatives argue that Biden’s Title IX changes infringe on states’ rights and threaten the integrity of women’s sports and facilities. They view the resistance from red states as a necessary stand against federal overreach and an important defense of traditional values and legal standards.
