President Joe Biden wants Title IX, now on its 50th anniversary, expanded to provide protections for nonbinary and transgender students. That means barring discrimination based on sexual orientation, and gender identity. While advocates are pleased, they say the protections don’t go far enough amid increasing restrictions on transgender athletes.
Groups like Tennessee Equality Project say the proposal is a significant step to protect transgender students but that trans athletes need those same protections. The Tennessee General Assembly passed several laws in recent years preventing trans students from competing in women’s sports.
Now, Biden wants the Education Department to start a separate rulemaking process to address how Title IX applies to trans athletes. But Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn slammed the idea.
“If they get their way in changing Title IX, you’re going to end up with a team of men and a team of former men,” Blackburn said.
The governing body for competitive swimming, FINA, recently barred trans women athletes who’ve gone through puberty from competition.
The organization is exploring an “open” category that would allow transgender swimmers to compete. That idea has received a mixed reception.
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