Supreme Court Blocks Title IX LGBT Protections

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to allow the Biden administration to enforce a key component of a new rule intended to protect LGBT students from discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation under Title IX. This decision affects 10 Republican-led states that had challenged the rule, which was set to take effect on August 1. The ruling maintains lower court injunctions blocking the rule and represents a significant setback for the administration's efforts to extend protections. The court's 5-4 decision saw Justice Neil Gorsuch join the liberal justices in dissent. Critics, including state attorneys general and conservative groups, argued that the rule overreached federal authority and posed safety and privacy concerns, whereas proponents viewed it as essential for eliminating sex discrimination. The Supreme Court's decision means the rule remains blocked while further litigation continues in lower courts.