Title IX states that, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

 

This amendment specifically addresses why gender equality should apply to public education as well as in the workplace and every other factor in life. But women aren’t just the only ones who need the protection. Gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer people are entitled to protections under Title IX. Transgender, nonbinary and gender-non-conforming people are entitled to protections under Title IX.

Why? Because they face far more discrimination based on their identities, twice as much as cis women.

 

According to a recent Gallup Poll, at least 7.6% of Americans identify as LGBTQ+ or something other than cisgender & heterosexual. The majority of those happen to be young adults, including one in five Gen Z’ers (ages 18-24).

These consist of kids who attend public schools and universities, and they need your help. With the President’s sweeping new changes to Title IX, they have since redefined it to target discrimination based on “sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation and gender identity.” These changes could not only acknowledge the LGBTQ+ community but further stamp out the prejudice that has historically plagued them.

 

However, lower-ranking courts in some states fought back against these Title IX revisions, with a recent Texas ruling in favor of blocking them in several school districts, with Judge Reed O’Connor’s reason for his decision being because he thought it was “illegal” to “functionally rewrite Title IX in a way that shockingly transforms American education.” Other judges like him have had their claims for refusal, but none of them were based on any real merit.

 

After all, when is protecting children a crime? Especially those who aren’t validated as their authentic self? If it’s so wrong, then why should we turn a blind to the abuse, harassment and, worse, the violence perpetrated or even condoned by school officials who were supposed to help them?

It doesn’t help that 50% who considered suicide in the past year were kids, from ages 13 to 17, according to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health. And that’s not all: 14% have actually attempted suicide, including 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth. It also counts for the 72% who’ve experienced anxiety as well as the 58% who’ve experienced depression. Most factors contributing to this mental health crisis range from bullying and family issues to other such stressors.

 However, there’s some good news: in the same survey, LGBTQ+ youth who receive more support from family or within their schools have reported lower rates of attempting suicide. 

With recent discourse surrounding the topic, it is clear more needs to be done. Which is why we need Congress and the Supreme Court (and, to an extent, and the Biden Administration) to enforce the new Title IX provisions nationwide so that these people can all learn in a welcoming environment. It is time to stand up to the politicians who would rather choose their own beliefs over the safety of the children because it’s easier than acceptance, and, instead, see to it that they make sure no one, especially our students, be put in harm’s way ever again. 

Sign here if you think Congress as well as the Supreme Court should make the new Title IX revisions into federal law and enforce them in every state.

 

 

Sources:

 

1. https://www.upi.com/amp/Top_News/US/2024/08/17/supreme-court-title-ix/9171723910644/
2. https://amp.centredaily.com/news/local/education/article291095790.html
3. https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/14/federal-title-ix-ruling-lgbtq-protections/
4. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022
5. https://www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/sexoverview.html#:~:text=Title%20IX%20states%20“No%20person,provide%20grants%20of%20financial%20assistance
6. https://news.gallup.com/poll/611864/lgbtq-identification.aspx
7. https://www.glsen.org/news/glsens-latest-research-brief-demonstrates-power-inclusive-learning-lgbtq-youth
8. https://www.nytimes.com/article/nex-benedict-oklahoma.html
9. https://www.sddirect.org.uk/blog-article/why-lgbtqi-inclusive-education-so-important-and-what-can-be-done#:~:text=Exploring%20their%20sexuality%20without%20the,among%20children%20and%20young%20people
10. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/07/08/texas-students-worry-about-mental-health-resources-after-closure-of-campus-lgbtq-centers/?outputType=amp