State lawmaker tells universities to take down language saying LGBTQ+ people are protected under Tit

State lawmaker tells universities to take down language saying LGBTQ+ people are protected under Title IX

In late August, Representative John Ragan (R-Oak Ridge) sent letters to universities across Tennessee telling them materials they publish saying LGBTQ+ students are protected by federal Title IX laws could be in violation of state law.

The letter asked universities to respond by September 2. It asked them to describe changes they made to remove materials that said LGBTQ+ people were protected under the law. The University of Tennessee and East Tennessee State University received letters from the lawmaker.

Title IX is a federal law that protects people from discrimination in educational programs and activities on the basis of sex. According to the U.S. Department of Education, any college that receives federal funding must "operate its education program or activity in a nondiscriminatory manner free of discrimination based on sex including sexual orientation and gender identity."

The law covers recruitment activities, admissions, counseling, financial assistance, athletics, sex-based harassment, treatment of pregnant and parenting students, and the treatment of LGBTQ+ students. By violating the law, universities risk losing federal funding.

Ragan's letter said that on July 15, a federal court "enjoined and restrained" guidance from the department in June 2021 that told universities they needed to cover LGBTQ+ students under the nondiscrimination law. Essentially, a court told the Department of Education it could not act on its June 2021 guidance.

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/politics/lgbtq-university-title-ix-protected-class/51-f6036a6a-c1c6-4ca8-818e-3381bca60a86