The Biden administration released its final Title IX regulations last week, effectively establishing “gender identity” as a protected class and requiring tens of thousands of schools across the country to embrace radical gender ideology, largely at the expense of girls.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) told the Democratic administration to pound sand Thursday, declaring the Sunshine State “will not comply.”
Rules from radicals
According to the late Birch Bayh of Indiana, the Democratic senator who formally introduced Title IX to Congress in 1972, the purpose behind the original statute was to address institutional discrimination against women in federally funded education programs and activities.
The Biden administration — ostensibly stricken with a strain of social constructivism that has left it incapable of
defining what a woman is and is not — infected Title IX with its philosophy last week, making changes that former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos told the National Review “guts the half century of protections and opportunities for women and callously replaces them with radical gender theory, as Biden’s far-left political base demanded.”
“I never thought I’d see the day where Title IX would be used to harm women, but sadly, that day has come,” added DeVos.
Blaze News
previously reported that under the new rules, sex discrimination now includes sexual preferences and “gender identity.” Sex-based harassment now includes “harassment” on these bases.
The Biden Department of Education clarified that schools can no longer separate or treat people differently based on sex, stressing that preventing “someone from participating in school (including in sex-separate activities) consistent with their gender identity causes that person more than de minimis harm.”
In effect, federally funded institutions and programs must allow trans-identifying men into women’s locker rooms and restrooms. Those that refuse could face legal action.
DOE Secretary Miguel Cardona
said in a statement, “These final regulations build on the legacy of Title IX by clarifying that all our nation’s students can access schools that are safe, welcoming, and respect their rights.”
‘Where woke goes to die’
After securing a landslide re-election win in 2022 and
swearing his oath of office on a Bible on loan from nationally syndicated radio host and cofounder of Blaze Media Glenn Beck, Republican Gov. DeSantis emphasized that “Florida is where woke goes to die.”
DeSantis, who has so far made good on that pledge, doubled down Thursday, stating in a video, “Florida rejects Joe Biden’s attempt to rewrite Title IX. We will not comply and will fight back.”
“We are not going to let Joe Biden try to inject men into women’s activities. We are not going to let Joe Biden undermine the rights of parents. And we are not going to let Joe Biden abuse his constitutional authority to try to impose these policies on us here in Florida,” added the governor.
“We are not going to let Biden get away with it,” continued DeSantis, whose state made the invasion of women’s bathrooms by men a
criminal offense last year. “We will not comply.”
Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.
noted on X, “Biden’s proposed changes will harm students and eliminate protections for girls at school. We will not fall in line with this radical agenda!”
Diaz
noted Wednesday in a letter to superintendents, “At Governor Ron DeSantis’ direction, no educational institutions should begin implementing any changes.”
The education commissioner stressed that “instead of implementing Congress’s clear directive to prevent discrimination based on biological sex, the Biden administration maims the statute beyond recognition” in an effort to “gaslight the country into believing that biological sex no longer has any meaning.”
“In doing so, it seeks to commandeer Florida’s educational institutions and force them to violate various federal and state laws, including the First Amendment and Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, as well as statutes to protect students’ privacy in bathrooms and locker rooms,” continued Diaz. “In Florida, we respect parents’ rights to direct their children’s education. We protect our students’ safety and privacy. And we make sure every student is given the chance to thrive on and off campus. We will keep pressing to accomplish these goals.”
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody made clear that the Sunshine State would be challenging “this betrayal of women in court.”
DeSantis’ initiative was lauded by various conservatives and parental rights advocates.
State Rep. Fred Deutsch (R) of South Dakota
said, “Every state should follow Florida’s lead to reject Biden’s rewrite of Title IX.”
Nicky Neily, founder and president of Parents Defending Education,
wrote, “We need more courageous leaders like Governor Ron DeSantis who reject and fight back against the Biden Administration’s extreme Title IX changes.”
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