NASHVILLE – Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman have taken legal action 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 to be heard in federal court regarding this matter.
“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.”
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In April, Attorneys General Skrmetti and Coleman, along with four other AGs, challenged the U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX overhaul. The new rules redefine sex discrimination and harassment to include “gender identity” and “sex characteristics.” These changes require K-12 schools, colleges, and universities to allow males identifying as females access to women’s sports, 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.”
Any school failing to comply with the new rule could lose federal education funding, including access to programs designed to help at-risk and needy youth. The U.S. Department of Education rule has implications for equal opportunities for women, existing 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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Justice Department Settles with Tennessee School District
The Justice Department reached a settlement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee following an investigation into racial discrimination against Black students, mandating reforms such as hiring an Anti-Harassment Coordinator and updating policies to better protect students’ rights.