• Federal judge strikes down attempt to change the meaning of sex to include “gender identity”
• Nationwide ruling frees educators from having to violate their consciences or risk losing their jobs

COVINGTON, KY – A federal district court has struck down the Biden Administration’s Title IX rules requiring public schools to implement policies promoting fluid “gender identity,” or risk losing federal funding. The rules had gone into effect on August 1, 2024, but were subsequently blocked in 26 states by temporary injunctions.

Christian Educators Association International (“Christian Educators”) joined six states and a female high school athlete in this case against the federal government to protect the First Amendment rights of educators and educational and athletic opportunities for students.

“We are thrilled that the judge saw these rules exactly for what they are: a contradiction of Title IX’s text and purpose,” said David Schmus, Executive Director of Christian Educators. “Our members and other educators are free from any attempt by the federal government to use Title IX to force them to say things about sex and gender identity that aren’t true and that violate their deeply held convictions.”

If the Biden Administration’s Title IX rules had been upheld, students who express a gender identity inconsistent with their sex would have likely been given access to sex-specific private places like restrooms, locker rooms, accommodations on overnight field trips, and athletic teams. The rules would have required educators to address students by names and pronouns inconsistent with their sex. Educators who have sincerely held philosophical and religious objections to these policies could have been forced to violate their consciences or lose their jobs.

In his ruling, Judge Danny Reeves explained that “expanding the meaning of ‘on the basis of sex’ to include ‘gender identity’ turns Title IX on its head,” and “throwing gender identity into the mix eviscerates the statute and renders it largely meaningless.”

Regarding the attempt of the Biden administration to compel the speech of educators to comply with gender ideology, Reeves added, “The First Amendment does not permit the government to chill speech or compel affirmance of a belief with which the speaker disagrees in this manner.”

While this ruling does not block these policies where they are required by state law, it does protect millions of educators and students in states and districts that enjoy freedom from laws or district policies that mandate gender ideology.

Christian Educators was represented by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the world’s largest legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, the sanctity of life, marriage, family, and parental rights.

Christian Educators Association International (“Christian Educators”), is a professional association of educators supporting, connecting, and protecting Christians working in our schools. Representing 15,000 members from all 50 states, Christian Educators provides a suite of protections and benefits for educators in public schools without the radical politicization of the national teachers’ unions.

For more information, visit christianeducators.org/titleIX.

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