Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Rejects Title IX Changes
In a bold move, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) has issued an executive order defying the recent changes to Title IX, which aim to provide protections for transgender students. Sanders, formerly the press secretary to President Trump, joins a growing number of Republican governors opposing the Biden administration’s revisions to the federal civil rights law, which prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded schools and education programs.
In her executive order signed on Thursday, Sanders condemned the new Title IX rules finalized by the Education Department, expanding the definition of sex discrimination to include sexual orientation and gender identity. She labeled these changes as “plainly ridiculous,” expressing concerns about their potential implications, including unfair competition in sports and access to gender-specific facilities.
Sanders instructed schools to continue enforcing state laws that restrict transgender students from using certain facilities and participating in sports teams aligned with their gender identity. This directive also aligns with a 2023 Arkansas law prohibiting the use of names or pronouns inconsistent with a student’s sex assigned at birth without parental consent.
At a gathering in the Arkansas Capitol, Sanders voiced her opposition, asserting that the state would not comply with the federal government’s directives. She criticized the Biden administration for attempting to impose what she referred to as “unscientific agendas” through the Title IX changes.
Sanders’s executive order not only challenges the federal government’s rule but also pledges legal action against potential financial losses incurred by the state due to these changes. She emphasized the importance of upholding state law and urged institutions to follow suit.
Despite the resistance from Republican-led states, the Education Department maintains that schools must adhere to the final Title IX regulations to receive federal education funding. However, Sanders and others remain steadfast in their opposition, raising questions about the enforcement and legality of the executive order.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration has yet to finalize a separate rule concerning athletics eligibility, which would impact transgender student-athletes. While this proposal aims to prevent categorical exclusion, it still allows schools to set limitations on transgender student participation in sports based on their gender identity.
The clash between state and federal authorities over Title IX underscores the ongoing debate surrounding transgender rights and protections in education.
