NASHVILLE – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman have requested a federal judge in Lexington, Kentucky to block the Department of Education’s new Title IX rule. The motion for a preliminary injunction was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. This coalition, led by Tennessee and Kentucky, is the first among 26 states suing to stop the Administration’s overhaul of Title IX to be heard in federal court.
"We're working to end the administration's new Title IX rule for good, but today's hearing was about stopping the rule from going into effect on August 1,” said Tennessee Attorney General Skrmetti. “We don't want our schools and universities wasting money preparing to enforce a rule that may well be struck down. While we fight over the rule's constitutionality, the money that would be spent on retraining and compliance to implement radical gender ideology could instead go toward educating our kids."
In April, Attorneys General Skrmetti and Coleman, along with four other AGs, challenged the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX overhaul which redefines sex discrimination and harassment to include “gender identity” and “sex characteristics.” The new rules mandate K-12 schools, colleges, and universities allow males identifying as females access to women’s sports teams, bathrooms, and locker rooms.
“Today, we are in court to protect Kentucky women and girls and their opportunities to succeed,” said Attorney General Coleman. “The Biden Administration’s assault on Title IX would end 50 years of protections and fairness. Kentucky and Tennessee are leading the national effort in urging the court to block this rule that violates the Constitution and common sense.”
Schools failing to comply with this new rule could lose federal education funding even if they adhere to state law. The U.S. Department of Education's regulation also affects parental rights, free speech protections, and due process.
Tennessee and Kentucky were joined in their challenge by Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia.
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