Category: Office for Civil Rights

Attorneys General to DOE: We will “fight your proposed changes to Title IX with every available tool in our arsenal.”

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date June 4, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Attorneys General to DOE: We will “fight your proposed changes to Title IX with every available tool in our arsenal.”

WASHINGTON / June 5, 2023 – The Biden Department of Education (DOE) has issued two draft Title IX regulations that would have broad effects on schools and on society. Among a wide range of changes, the first proposal would expand the definition of biological “sex” to include “gender identity.” (1) The second would promote the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports (2).

If approved, the proposals would have far-reaching, harmful consequences in other areas such as free speech, due process, parental rights, religious freedom, and gender transitioning of minors (3).

On May 15, 2023 a coalition of 22 state Attorneys General sent a letter to the Department of Education, emphasizing their opposition to the Biden Administration’s proposed athletics regulation. The strongly worded letter from MS, AL, AR, FL, GA, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MT, NE, ND, OH, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WV states,

“The proposed rule defies Title IX’s text, history, and purpose. It disregards five decades of evidence showing the benefits of applying the traditional definition of biological sex in sports. It ignores basic considerations of privacy and dignity. And it fails to meet the Department’s duty to analyze costs and benefits.” (4)

This letter is the latest missive from a coalition of Attorneys General opposing the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX regulations:

June 23, 2022: Eighteen Attorneys General sent a letter to the DOE warning, “we will fight your proposed changes to Title IX with every available tool in our arsenal.” (5)
June 27, 2022: The Attorneys General of AL, AK, AZ, AR, GA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, MO, MT, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, and WV amended a prior lawsuit, which resulted in a Preliminary Injunction placed on the draft Title IX regulation (6).
September 12, 2022: Responding during the regulation’s open comment period, Attorneys General submitted three separate letters to the DOE:
- Indiana, joined by the Attorneys General from AL, AZ, AR, GA, KS, KY, LA, MS, MT, NE, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, and WV (7).
- Montana, joined by the Attorneys General from AL, AR, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, NE, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, and VA (8).
- Ohio, joined by the Attorneys General from AL, AK, AR, FL, GA, IN, KS, KY, LA, MS, MT, NE, OK, SC, SD, UT, WV, AND WY (9).

SAVE commends the persistent and principled efforts of the Attorneys General seeking to block the Biden administration’s deeply-flawed Title IX proposals.

SAVE calls on state and federal lawmakers to continue to voice their strong opposition to both Title IX proposals. Email comments to the office of Secy. Miguel Cardona at the Department of Education: alejandro.reyes@ed.gov

Links:

Campus Civil Rights Department of Education Due Process Free Speech Gender Agenda Gender Identity Office for Civil Rights Title IX

79 Members of Congress Speak Out in Opposition to Biden Title IX Plan

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date May 23, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

79 Members of Congress Speak Out in Opposition to Biden Title IX Plan

WASHINGTON / May 24, 2023 – The Biden Department of Education has issued proposed regulations that would expand the definition of biological “sex” to include “gender identity” (1) and allow the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports (2).

If approved, these proposals also will have far-reaching, harmful consequences for parental rights (5), free speech (3), due process (4), religious freedom (6), and gender transitioning of minors (7).

In response, 79 members of Congress have released statements of opposition, many of them strongly-worded:

Senate — 29 members:

John Barrasso – WY
Marsha Blackburn – TN
John Boozman – AR
Mike Braun – IN
Katie Britt – AL
Ted Budd – NC
Richard Burr – NC
Bill Cassidy – LA
Tom Cotton – AR
Kevin Cramer – ND
Mike Crapo – ID
Ted Cruz – TX
Steve Danies – MT
Joni Ernst – IA
Josh Hawley – MO
Ron Johnson – WI
James Lankford – OK
Mike Lee – UT
Cynthia Lummis – WY
Roger Marshall – KS
Markwayne Mullins – OK
Pete Ricketts – NE
Marco Rubio – FL
Rick Scott – FL
Tim Scott – SC
Cindy Hyde Smith – MS
Dan Sullivan – AK
Thom Tillis – NC
Tommy Tuberville – AR

House of Representatives — 50 members:

Jodey Arrington – TX
Brian Babin –TX
Jim Banks – IN
Andy Biggs – AZ
Dan Bishop – NC
Lauren Boebert – CO
Mike Bost – IL
Josh Brecheen – OK
Michael C. Burgess – TX
Eric Burlison – MO
Ben Cline – VA
Michael Cloud – TX
Andrew S. Clyde – GA
Eli Crane – AZ
Dan Crenshaw – TX
Byron Donalds – FL
Jeff Duncan – SC
Michelle Fischbach – MN
Virginia Foxx – NC
Bob Good – VA
Mark E. Green, M.D. – TN
Marjorie Taylor Greene – GA
Glenn Grothman – WI
Michael Guest – MS
Andy Harris, M.D. –
Kevin Hern – OK
Clay Higgins – LA
Randy L. Jackson – TX
Mike Johnson – LA
Doug Lamborn – CO
Debbie Lesko – AZ
Anna Paulina Luna – FL
Nancy Mace – SC
Kevin McCarthy – CA
David McKinley – WV
Mary E. Miller – IL
Cory Mills – FL
Nathaniel Moran – TX
Alex X. Mooney – WV
Troy E. Nehls – TX
Ralph Norman – SC
Andy Ogles – TN
George Santos – NY
Steve Scalise – LA
Pete Sessions – TX
Chris Smith – NJ
Gregory Steube – FL
Ann Wagner – MO
Randy Weber – TX
Daniel Webster – FL

In addition, numerous state lawmakers and attorneys general have issued statements of disapproval. Links to all statements are available online (8).

SAVE calls on federal and state lawmakers to continue to voice their opposition to both Title IX regulations. Send email to: alejandro.reyes@ed.gov

Links:

Department of Education Gender Agenda Office for Civil Rights Press Release Title IX

Tidal Wave of Opposition to Biden ‘Gender-Identity’ Plan

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date May 17, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Tidal Wave of Opposition to Biden ‘Gender-Identity’ Plan

WASHINGTON / May 17, 2023 – Last June the Biden Department of Education (DOE) released a proposed regulation that would expand the definition of biological “sex” to include the fluid concept of “gender identity.” (1) In response, over 200 members of the Title IX Network recorded their disagreement with the plan (2). Numerous lawmakers and attorneys general issued strongly worded statements of disapproval, as well (3).

Last month, the DOE issued a second proposal designed to promote the participation of transgender athletes in women’s sports (4). In response, opposition to the Biden Title IX proposals has grown dramatically in recent days:

May 10: Thirty-four state lawmakers sent a letter highlighting the growing wave of violent incidents by transgender activists, and urging the DOE to “immediately abandon its plan to release a new Title IX regulation.” (5)

May 12: A coalition of 26 state governors signed a letter calling on DOE Secretary Miguel Cardona to withdraw the proposed athletics regulation to “restore the protection of fairness in women’s and girls’ sports.” (6)

May 15: Twenty-two Republican senators called on the Biden Administration to withdraw its plan, which could prevent states from enforcing bans on transgender athletes competing in women’s sports (7).

May 16: The Attorneys General in nearly two dozen states sent letters urging the Biden Administration to uphold Title IX protections for female athletes (8).

Individual lawmakers have spoken out on the issue, as well. For example, Texas Democrat Rep. Shawn Thierry recently testified in support of a bill that would protect underage children from medical interventions designed to change their gender (9).

A strong majority of the American public is opposed to the Biden gender-identity plan, as well. A YouGov public opinion survey found that 63% of Americans oppose expanding the definition of sex to include “gender identity,” and 71% do not believe transgender athletes should be allowed to participate in women’s sports (10).

Links:

Campus Department of Education Free Speech Office for Civil Rights Press Release Title IX Violence

Following Wave of Violent Incidents by Transgender Activists, 72 Organizations and 34 State Lawmakers Call on DOE to Abandon Title IX Plan

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date May 10, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Following Wave of Violent Incidents by Transgender Activists, 72 Organizations and 34 State Lawmakers Call on DOE to Abandon Title IX Plan

May 10, 2023 – In a coalition letter sent today to Dr. Miguel Cardona, Secretary of the Department of Education, 72 organizations and 34 state lawmakers, have expressed their deep concerns with the upswing in incidents of violence by transgender activists.

On June 23, 2022 the U.S. Department of Education issued a draft Title IX regulation that redefines “sex” to include “gender identity.” (1) This proposal served to activate and embolden the transgender rights movement, leading to a growing number of violent incidents around the country. Following are examples of such incidents in recent weeks:

April 6, San Francisco, CA: Following a speech by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, a group of activists began to chant, “Trans rights are human rights.” They chased Gaines down a hallway, hitting her on the head, and forcing her to seek safety in a room. To secure her release, the activists demanded that Riley pay each of them a $10 “ransom.” (2)
April 23, Ft. Worth, TX: Three Antifa members were arrested on multiple charges, including assault of a police officer. They were arrested after attacking a peaceful protest outside a local restaurant where a drag queen show was taking place. Two out of the three Antifa members were transgender (3).
May 8, Kent, OH: Kent State College Republicans announced it would be holding a screening of the film, “What is a Woman?” In response, transgender activists made veiled threats, saying that they were undeterred by police investigations. The dispute culminated in a confrontation in which an activist forcibly tore a sign from the hands of a KSCR member (4).

A complete list of Incidents can be seen online (5).

The 72 organizations and 34 state lawmakers who signed the coalition letter urge the Department of Education to immediately abandon its plan to release a new Title IX regulation. Today’s letter to the Department of Education is available online (6).

All 72 organizations are members of the Title IX Network, the umbrella group that is leading the national effort to stop the Department of Education’s Title IX plan (7).

Links:

Campus Department of Education Free Speech Law Enforcement Office for Civil Rights Press Release Title IX Violence

Police Must Act Now to Stop Growing Wave of Violence by Transgender Activists

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date April 20, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Police Must Act Now to Stop Growing Wave of Violence by Transgender Activists

WASHINGTON / April 20, 2023 – Last June the Department of Education issued a proposal to expand the definition of “sex” to include “gender identity” (1), a move that served to strengthen and embolden the transgender rights movement. That same month, the Trans Resistance Network began to tweet a series of inflammatory messages, for example making the claim that “Disarming trans people is a preparation for genocide.” (2)

Not surprisingly, a growing number of incidents of harassment and free speech violations by transgender activists were seen during subsequent months. On March 9, for example, a group of activists at Stanford University repeatedly interrupted the comments of Judge Stuart Duncan, forcing him to curtail his presentation. Previously, Duncan had denied the request of Norman Varner, convicted of child exploitation, to change his sex and be referred to by a female name (3).

Some of these incidents escalated into credible threats of violence, or actual violence.

Best known is the shooting of three staff members and three students at Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. The shooter, Audrey Hale, self-identified as transgender (4).

The Nashville tragedy is one of numerous other violent incidents in the past six months. This number has escalated dramatically since early March:

October 26, 2022, Tacoma, WA
November 14, New York City
February 28, 2023, Oklahoma City
March 10, Sacramento
March 29, Nashville
March 29, Richmond, VA
March 29, San Francisco
March 31, Colorado Springs
April 6, San Francisco State University

The most recent April 6 incident followed a talk by NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines, where she was chased down a hallway, repeatedly hit on the head, and forced to seek safety in a classroom for three hours (5).

In some cases, law enforcement took little action to halt the violence. SAVE calls on law enforcement and campus security personnel to act decisively to stop the wave of violence by transgender activists. SAVE also calls on lawmakers to support these efforts.

More information about these incidents is available on the SAVE website (6).

Links:

Campus Department of Education Due Process Free Speech Law Enforcement Office for Civil Rights Sexual Assault Title IX

String of Transgender Incidents Reveal Threats of Biden Title IX Plan

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date April 11, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

String of Transgender Incidents Reveal Threats of Biden Title IX Plan

WASHINGTON / April 11, 2023 – Three recent incidents reveal the growing lawlessness of the national transgender movement. The newfound prominence of transgenderism can be traced to the Title IX proposal released last June by the Biden Department of Education (1). Following are the three incidents:

March 9, Stanford University: Judge Stuart Duncan was invited to give a talk to students at the Stanford Law School. But a group of students with signs that read, “Trans Lives Matter” repeatedly interrupted his comments, forcing him to cut short his presentation.
The students were protesting the fact that in 2015, Duncan had denied the request of Norman Varner, previously convicted of child exploitation, to change his sex and be referred to by a female name (2). Stanford University later issued an apology (3).
March 27, Nashville: Armed with a rifle, pistol, and handgun, Audrey Hale rushed into Covenant School and fired 152 shots, killing three staff members and three students. Hale had self-identified as transgender (4).
April 6, San Francisco State University: Former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines gave a speech at the San Francisco State University to explain her opposition to the participation of biological males in women’s sports. In response, a group of activists began to frantically chant, “Trans rights are human rights.” The activists chased Riley down a hallway, assaulting her repeatedly and forcing her to seek safety in a room. To secure her release, the activists demanded that Riley pay each of them a $10 “ransom.” (5)

The recent surge of transgender activism can be traced back to June 23, 2022 when the Biden Department of Education released its proposed Title IX regulation, the federal law that was designed to curb sex discrimination in schools. The Biden regulation seeks to change the definition of “sex” to include “gender identity,” a change that would bolster the prominence of the transgender movement in America.

Recent developments reveal other serious defects with the Biden proposal (6):

Parental Rights: On March 24, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Parents Bill of Rights, which would help protect against secretive school policies and overly-sexualized instructional content (7).
Due Process: Last week, a judge ruled against The College of New Jersey, citing a myriad of procedural irregularities and allowing its adjudicators to be influenced by external pressures to convict a student accused of sexual misconduct (8).
Free Speech: An article in the Washington Examiner revealed that a majority of U.S. universities have instituted anonymous “snitching” protocols for statements perceived to be biased (9).

To date, 210 organizational members of the Title IX Network have announced their opposition to the Biden Title IX plan (10). We urge the Department of Education to immediately abandon its plan to release a new Title IX regulation.

Links:

Tags Transgenderism

Bills Campus Department of Education Due Process Free Speech Investigations Office for Civil Rights

SAVE Commends Sen. John Kennedy for ‘Ensuring Fairness for Students Act’

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date April 4, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

SAVE Commends Sen. John Kennedy for ‘Ensuring Fairness for Students Act’

WASHINGTON / April 4, 2023 – Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana recently introduced the Ensuring Fairness for Students Act, a bill that is designed to codify due process protections in campus Title IX proceedings. In introducing the bill, Kennedy charged the Biden White House is seeking to “roll back fair proceedings on school campuses by making students guilty until proven innocent.” (1)

The bill would provide for a number of due process protections, such as assure that both parties are provided written notice of the allegations, require objective evaluation of the evidence, uphold the presumption of innocence, eliminate conflict of interest, and allow cross-examination.

Just three days after the Kennedy bill was introduced, a news account revealed the deplorable state of Title IX procedures on many campuses (2). The report highlighted the case of a former University of Maryland student who had been accused of sexual misconduct. Even after he was cleared of the charge, two students undertook a campaign to accuse him of being a rapist, causing him to be kicked off the university’s lacrosse team. Saying the university Title IX office failed to intervene to stop the defamation campaign, the lawsuit is seeking over $1 million in damages.

A recent national survey conducted by FIRE found that (3):

72% of universities failed to provide timely notice of allegations to students accused of wrongdoing.
60% of schools do not assure the presumption of innocence.
Only 15% of institutions guarantee that accusers and the accused could see the evidence being presented to fact-finders.

SAVE commends Senator Kennedy for introducing the bill, and encourages other members of Congress to take steps to support the bill’s prompt enactment into law.

The Ensuring Fairness for Students Act can be viewed online (4).

Links:

Campus Department of Education Due Process Free Speech Gender Agenda Gender Identity Office for Civil Rights Press Release Title IX

Republican Lawmakers Lead National Movement to Thwart the ‘Gender Agenda’

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date March 7, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

R. Stewart: 301-801-0608

Email: info@savesevices.org

Republican Lawmakers Lead National Movement to Thwart the ‘Gender Agenda’

WASHINGTON / March 8, 2023 – The “Gender Agenda” refers to the movement to promote gender transitioning, curtail parental rights, allow biological males to compete in women’s sports, curtail free speech, and diminish due process on college campuses. A major goal of the Gender Agenda is to overhaul the Title IX law to redefine sex to include “gender identity.”

Republican lawmakers across the country have been at the forefront of efforts to stop the Gender Agenda. Following is a listing of measures introduced thus far in Congress in 2023:

Greg Steube: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act (H.R. 734) [1]
Marjorie Taylor Greene: Protect Children’s Innocence Act (H.R. 8731) [2]
Jeff Van Drew: My Choice, My Child Act of 2023 (H.R. 216) [3]
Julia Letlow: Parents Bill of Rights (H.R.5) [4]
Debbie Lesko: Parental Rights Amendment (H. J. Res 38) [5]
Jim Banks: Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act (H.R. 1276) [6]
Tim Scott: PROTECT Kids Act (S. 200) [7]
Tommy Tuberville: Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023 (S. 613) [8]

In addition, Congressman Jim Banks is spearheading a new group called the House Anti-Woke Caucus, now with over 25 members [9.

The following state-level bills already have been enacted into law in 2023:

Tennessee: SB 0001 – Prohibits minors from receiving puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and transgender surgeries [10]
Tennessee: HB 0009 – Outlaws drag shows in public spaces and restricts them to age-appropriate venues [11]
South Dakota: Help Not Harm Act (HB 1080) – Prohibits certain medical and surgical interventions on minor patients [12]
Mississippi: Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act (H.B. 1125) – Forbids any person to “knowingly provide gender transition procedures to any person under eighteen years of age” or “engage in conduct that aids or abets” such procedures. [13]

To date, SAVE has identified 82 bills in 28 states, including proposals that address Parental Rights (36 bills), Gender Transitioning (29 bills), and Women’s Sports (16 bills).

At the recent Conservative Political Action Conference held near Washington DC, SAVE sponsored a booth titled, “Stop the Gender Agenda.” [14] At the booth, 377 individuals signed a petition to Stop the Gender Agenda. Signers included the Lieutenant Governor of a southern state, a woman who transitioned to the male sex and later de-transitioned to being female, and other persons from Spain, Peru, Austria, Norway, Sweden, and Japan.

Links:

14. https://www.saveservices.org/2022-policy/network/

Bills Civil Rights Office for Civil Rights Title IX

Growing Wave of Bills Frustrate Biden Plan to Allow Biological Males to Compete in Women’s Sports

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date February 13, 2023

	Dating		Married
	Male %	Female %	Male %	Female %
Any physical violence	14.6	17.4	13.6	12.1
Severe physical violence	11.9	5.6	4.9	4.4

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Growing Wave of Bills Frustrate Biden Plan to Allow Biological Males to Compete in Women’s Sports

WASHINGTON / February 14, 2023 – Surfer Bethany Hamilton is speaking out against the World Surf League’s newly announced policy that would allow biological males to compete against women in professional surfing events (1).

Hamilton’s comments spotlight the growing controversy arising from a Department of Education proposal, issued last June, to redefine the meaning of “sex” in the Title IX law to include “gender identity” (2). Such a change would impose a competitive disadvantage on biological females (3).

In response, a milestone court decision was handed down, and a series of proposed bills have been introduced at the federal and state levels that are designed to protect women’s sports.

On January 5, 2023, the Southern District Court of West Virginia ruled in favor of the Save Women’s Sports Bill, which defines “girl” and “woman” as biologically female for the purpose of secondary school sports (4).

In Congress, Rep. Greg Steube recently introduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act. The bill, which now has 20 co-sponsors, would require that sex “be recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth” (5).

In 12 states, lawmakers recently have introduced bills designed to protect women’s sports:

Alaska: HB 27 (6)
Colorado: HB 23-1098 (7)
Connecticut: SB 468 (8)
Hawaii: HB 508/SB 1429 (9)
Kansas: HB 2238 (10)
Maryland: HB 359 (11)
Minnesota: HF 551 (12)
Missouri: SB 48 (13)
New Jersey: SB 589 (14)
North Dakota: HB 1249 (15) and HB 1489 (16)
Texas: HB 23 (17)
Virginia: HB 1387 (18)

Eighteen states previously enacted laws designed to ban biological males from competing in female sports: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia (19).

A SAVE opinion poll found that 71% of Americans oppose allowing transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports (20). SAVE urges lawmakers to discourage attempts the redefine “sex” and work to assure fairness in women’s sports (21).

Links:

Department of Education Gender Identity Legal Office for Civil Rights Title IX

Clandestine Gender Transitioning at California School Triggers Lawsuit, Call for Legislative Hearings

Post author By Edward Bartlett
Post date January 30, 2023

PRESS RELEASE

Rebecca Hain: 513-479-3335

Email: info@saveservices.org

Clandestine Gender Transitioning at California School Triggers Lawsuit, Call for Legislative Hearings

WASHINGTON / January 30, 2023 – A lawsuit has been filed against a California school district for promoting the gender transitioning of an 11-year-old girl without parental knowledge. Many school districts across the nation have adopted similar policies that prevent parents from being informed about their own children changing their gender.

The lawsuit alleges the girl was seeing a counselor at Sierra View Elementary School in Chico, California for mental health issues. One day the girl told the counselor she felt “like a boy.” Subsequently, the school began to secretly transition the girl without parental knowledge or consent. Subsequently, the girl’s mental health began to deteriorate (1).

The girl later changed schools and reverted to her female identity. The lawsuit against the Chico Unified School District was filed earlier this month (2).

A recent report from the American Principles Project notes that transgenderism is marked by a “deadly and destructive combination of ideology, politics, and profits,” and reveals the global market value of sex reassignment surgery to be more than $316 million (3).

The unregulated growth of gender transitioning has resulted in a growing number of persons, known as “detransitioners,” who have decided to revert to their original sex (4).

Sixty-three leading organizations are now calling on Congress to “Conduct hearings on experimental medical practices involving gender transition of under-age children, e.g., puberty blocking drugs, opposite-sex hormones, breast removal, and castration.” (5)

In addition, state lawmakers are being called up to hold hearings to assess the science, ethics, and financial backing of gender transitioning of underage students. To date, federal courts in Florida, North Dakota, and Texas have ruled in favor of placing restrictions on underage gender transitioning surgery (6).

In June, the U.S. Department of Education proposed a new Title IX regulation that would redefine the meaning of “sex” to include “gender identity.” Such a change would serve to promote gender transitioning and have profound, long-lasting effects on child safety, the family structure, and parental rights (7).

Links: