Louisiana attorney general, superintendent file lawsuit against new US Title IX rules
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BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Monday, April 29, that her office has filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Education to challenge recent revisions to Title IX.
Murrill spoke about the new Title IX rules with Gov. Jeff Landry and State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley. They want to stop new rules being added to Title IX that give protections to transgender students that they feel put women in harm’s way.
They also expressed gratitude to other attorneys general who have joined them including in Idaho, Mississippi and Montana.
The U.S. Department of Education released finalized rules and regulations to protect students against sex-based discrimination and harassment. The rules promote accountability and fairness and support students and families.
Murrill said that this new rule from the Biden administration guts Title IX. But advocates for transgender students said that it just offers protections.
The change mandates that schools provide protections against discrimination to include issues related to gender identity.
Teachers would have to use a student’s preferred name and pronouns. Students would be allowed to use locker rooms and bathrooms that align with their identity.
The lawsuit said it is discriminatory against biological women.
What Louisiana officials say about the new rules
“Here are some of the consequences of the rule. Boys and girls will be forced to share bathrooms, locker rooms and perhaps lodging on overnight field trips with members of the opposite sex. They’ll be forced to use the preferred pronouns or face punishment,” Murrill said. “It raises distinct free speech and free exercise problems. Parents may never hear about unapproved, so-called gender-affirming counseling their children receive because the rule allows the school to conceal that information from parents in certain circumstances.”
Landry said it was absurd that women were being pushed out of positions “simply because there are people out there that want to identify as an opposite sex.”
“Whatever lever that the governor’s office has, whatever power either the Constitution or the statutes vested in me, we will 100% be standing behind this legislature, behind this attorney general and behind the BESE board because you know what, we do not intend to comply,” Landry said. “We are not going to pretend that there is some other form of sexual category other than the one that the Almighty has set forth. And that is only two of them.”
Brumley said his message to school boards was clear.
Louisiana education superintendent suggests that schools not follow new US Title IX rules
“Allow this legal process to unfold. Rely on our office if you need support, but do not comply with these radical rules from the Biden administration,” Brumley said.
The Rapides Parish school board also has joined the lawsuit.
On Monday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Clay Clay Higgins (R-LA) endorsed the lawsuit.
“I stand with Louisiana’s leadership in strong opposition to the Biden administration’s radical changes to Title IX,” Higgins said. “The revised rule poses a major threat to female students across the country. I commend Attorney General Murrill and Governor Landry on their mission to protect fundamental American values and defend our children.”
Activists speak against the move
Advocates for transgender youth said they are a vulnerable population that needs these protections.
“We know that this is affecting students negatively, increasing all of the negative statistics, increasing suicidality,” said Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates.
Forum for Equality, an organization that works for LGBTQ+ human rights in Louisiana, said this is an attack on the rights of students.
“We should all be enraged by the relentless assault on LGBTQ+ children orchestrated by Louisiana Republicans. Gov. Landry, Attorney General Murrill and Superintendent Brumley have a callous disregard for the well-being and dignity of these vulnerable young individuals. They must be reminded that these are not just policies they’re attacking; they’re attacking human beings – our children – who deserve love, respect, and acceptance. It’s time for us to act on the harm they’re causing and recognize the humanity they’ve carelessly neglected,” SarahJane Guidry, Forum for Equality’s executive director, said in a news release.
When asked about the challenges transgender students face, Murrill said it could be addressed but her priority is protecting biological women.
She did not offer instances when a transgender student posed a threat to another student, saying she was told stories in confidence.
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