FRANKFORT, KY – Attorney General Russell Coleman announced today that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky blocked the Biden Administration’s new Title IX rule that would have undermined equal opportunities in education and athletics for women.
The judge’s order makes clear that the U.S. Department of Education’s attempt to redefine “sex” to include “gender identity” is unlawful and beyond the agency’s regulatory authority. If allowed to take effect, the Biden Administration rule would have required K-12 schools, colleges and universities to allow males identifying as females access to women’s sports, bathrooms and locker rooms.
Any school failing to comply would have risked losing federal education funding. The Department of Education reports that public and private schools across Kentucky received a total of $1.1 billion in federal funding last year.
“As a parent and as Attorney General, I joined this effort to protect our women and girls from harm. Today’s ruling recognized the 50-plus years of educational opportunities Title IX has created for students and athletes,” said Attorney General Coleman. “We’re grateful for the court’s ruling, and we will continue to fight the Biden Administration’s attempts to rip away protections to advance its political agenda.”
Last week, Attorney General Coleman and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti led a coalition of six states to urge court to grant the preliminary injunction.
Kentucky and Tennessee were joined in their challenge by Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. The court blocked the rule from taking effect in these states.
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