On April 26, President Joe Biden announced that he is making significant amendments to Title IX regulations that hope to build further protections for survivors of abuse, LGBTQ+ students, and student parents.
Reinstating Protections
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At the same time, the Biden administration has reinstated protections under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for LGBTQ+ people that the Trump administration previously rescinded.
Sex-Based Discrimination
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Under Section 1557 of the ACA, these protections will come into effect on August 1st and prohibit sex-based discrimination in healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Helping Student Survivors
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The new Title IX rules also reinstate protections for students who have survived sexual assault and harassment, which were slowly eroded under the previous Trump administration.
Trump Slashed Everything
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The reinstated ACA protections were also removed during the Trump administration as part of broader anti-LGBTQ+ policies enacted across various federal departments that Biden has now reversed.
A Common Problem
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It seems a common problem with America’s two-party system is that one president makes a change, and the next president reverses it, leading to no real progress on many issues.
Title IX
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If you’re unaware, Title IX, a federal civil rights law passed as part of the Education Amendments of 1972, prohibited sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal funding.
Broader Interpretations
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Title IX was originally created to ensure that men and women received equal opportunities, but as time passed, it evolved to take on broader interpretations.
Expanding Title IX
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Since its creation, Title IX has been expanded to address everything from sexual harassment and assault to discrimination based on pregnancy.
Title IX’s Newest Addition
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Thanks to the Biden administration, Title IX’s newest addition will create protections for people from discrimination based on their gender identity.
Biden Promises
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These new changes align with the Biden administration’s promises to create policies that support vulnerable groups and enhance rights for LGBTQ+ individuals in healthcare.
HHS Reaction
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Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Xavier Becerra, said the reinstatement of these protections marks significant progress toward a more equitable and inclusive healthcare system in the U.S.
A Giant Step Forward
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Becerra said, “Today’s rule is a giant step forward for this country toward a more equitable and inclusive health care system.”
A Clear Way to Act
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Becerra said this change “means that Americans across the country now have a clear way to act on their rights against discrimination when they go to the doctor, talk with their health plan, or engage with health programs run by HHS.”
Expanding Definitions
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Becerra’s statement is also supported by the Biden administration’s expansion of the definition of sexual assault in educational settings, applying to both K-12 schools and colleges, to offer broader protections.
Fighting Change
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However, plenty in the U.S. government are fighting these new Title IX changes with everything they have.
Suing Biden
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Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has responded to the new Title IX regulations by suing the Biden administration almost immediately after the decision.
Opposing Trans Students
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Specifically, Texas AG Paxton opposes the new federal nondiscrimination protections toward transgender students and has told Texas educators to disregard these changes.
Ignoring Biden
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AG Paxton said, “I am instructing the Texas Education Agency to ignore your illegal dictate.”
Trampling Laws
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Paxton continued, “Your rewrite of Title IX not only exceeds your constitutional authority, it also tramples laws that I signed to protect the integrity of women’s sports by prohibiting men from competing against female athletes.”
Dragging Their Feet
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Despite Paxton’s efforts, these changes are great for the LGBTQ+ community; however, the Biden administration has dragged its feet when it comes to a crucial decision for trans people.
Trans Kids in Sports
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With the constant debate surrounding trans people participating in sports going on for quite some time now, the Biden administration has still not made a definitive ruling regarding transgender and nonbinary students in sports.
The post Biden Establishes New LGBTQ+ Protections and Republicans Aren’t Happy first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
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