President Joe Biden's Education Department has abandoned a proposed rule change that would have penalized schools that prevent transgender athletes from participating in girls' sports.
Ministry of Education announced document It announced the withdrawal of the proposal on Friday. The Biden administration had proposed rule changes in April 2023. The proposal was titled “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Educational Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance: Sex-Related Eligibility Standards for Men's and Women's Athletic Teams.''
The rule would formally prohibit states from banning participation in single-gender sports based on gender identity, not just sex. There are 23 states in the United States that have laws restricting transgender athletes from participating in public school sports as women.
According to the document, the original intent of Biden's proposal was to “understand Title IX, which governs the adoption or application by recipients of gender-related standards that limit or deny the eligibility of students to participate in boys' or girls' athletic teams.” The aim was to propose regulatory standards. Consistent with their gender identity. ”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
The department made the decision to withdraw after hearing testimony during a comment period, but claims ongoing litigation also influenced the decision.
“The Department is aware that there are multiple pending cases related to the application of Title IX in relation to gender identity, including cases related to the application of Title IX to athletic eligibility standards in different factual situations. “In light of the comments received and the various pending lawsuits, the Department has decided not to regulate this matter at this time,” the document reads.
The Biden-Harris administration will issue a comprehensive bill clarifying that Title IX's prohibition on “sex” discrimination in schools covers discrimination based on gender identity, sexual orientation, and “pregnancy or pregnancy or childbirth.” After issuing the rules, several states filed lawsuits and enacted their own laws to address the issue. Related Terms. ”
Father of female runner forced to compete with trans athlete expresses anger over situation: 'I can't even digest'
The government argued that the regulation did not address athletic eligibility. However, several experts evidence presented She told FOX News Digital in June that she expected more biological males to be included in women's sports eventually.
In August, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court rejected the government's emergency request to implement the sweeping rules. The request could be something like this biological male allowed Ten states have state and local regulations in place to prevent it in women's bathrooms, locker rooms, and dormitories. Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch was the only conservative justice to dissent.
Democrats have proposed other federal legislation that would allow for greater transgender participation in women's sports. The support record was the subject of a national backlash during the campaign, with Republicans and President-elect Donald Trump making it a key issue in their campaigns.
Previous Democratic support for transgender inclusion includes: equality lawwas proposed in 2019 and would have seen an amendment “force public schools to allow biologically male athletes who identify as transgender to participate on girls' sports teams.”
In March 2023, Democrats proposed a transgender bill of rights, proposing: solution “Recognizes that it is the duty of the Federal Government to develop and implement a Transgender Bill of Rights.” The resolution also states that biological males “can participate in sports and programs on teams that best match their gender identity.” Specifically, they are calling for federal legislation that would ensure that “people are able to participate in the [and] Use the school facilities that best suit your gender identity. ”
On the other side of the aisle, Idaho's Republican governor, Brad Little, issued an executive order in August implementing the Women's Sports Defense Act, which prohibits schools and universities from including transgender athletes in women's sports.
In an exclusive pre-election interview with Fox News Digital, Little said that if Kamla Harris had become the 47th president, her executive order would have resulted in the state's public schools losing federal funding. He acknowledged the concern that this may have occurred.
“When you get to the bridge, make sure you cross,” Little said. “From a national perspective, there is a small group of radicals who are trying to implement changes to the rules that are already there. “We will continue to take aggressive action as the state of Idaho to legally protect our female athletes and the great strides made thanks to Title IX.” ”
But even in states with such laws in place to prevent such incidents, liberal federal judges have intervened to prevent transgender athletes from sharing fields and locker rooms with female students within their borders. It didn't happen.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Several federal judges during the Obama administration have ruled that transgender people can participate in women's sports. Judge Randia McCafferty of New Hampshire and Judge M. Hannah Lauck of Virginia ruled earlier this year to allow biological males to play on high school girls' soccer and tennis teams. Both justices were appointed by Mr. Obama in the early 2010s.
But as the years went on, Democrats gradually retreated from support for transgender inclusion. Several Democratic lawmakers, including Texas Rep. Colin Allred, have reversed their previous support for transgender participation in women's sports.
This trend continued after the election, when Representative Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, spoke out in multiple interviews against his party's position and actions allowing transgender people to participate, sparking a fierce backlash and a public outcry outside his office. It even sparked a massive rally in support of transgender people.
In the final weeks of the Biden administration, the Biden administration has also signaled significant capitulation on the issue as the party continues to debate what position it will take moving forward.
Follow Fox News Digital X sports broadcastplease subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle Newsletter.
