US court pauses guidance allowing men to play women’s sport

A United States district court has temporarily blocked guidance forcing schools to allow men to participate on women’s athletic teams and use female-only spaces.

Over 15 state Attorneys General, led by the state of Tennessee, pursued legal action against guidance issued by the US Department of Education and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, for reinterpreting the definition of “sex” in Title IX of the Civil Rights Act.

Last year, President Joe Biden directed such agencies to “fully implement statutes that prohibit sex discrimination”, while redefining “sex” to include ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation’.

Protection

In the court’s judgment, Judge Charles Atchley Jr. ruled that the guidance was based on a flawed interpretation of a 2020 US Supreme Court ruling about employment discrimination.

Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented: “Title IX was enacted to give females equal opportunities in sports, not to allow men to take over female sports.

“Girls and women have worked hard to compete on a safe and fair playing field against other female athletes. They also deserve privacy and protection in their locker room and bathrooms.”

Title IX was enacted to give females equal opportunities in sports, not to allow men to take over female sports.

‘Wrong’

Speaking to Fox News, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis blasted Rachel Levine’s claim that ‘gender-affirming’ procedures for young people are “medically necessary, safe and effective”. Rachel Levine, previously called Richard, is a man living as a woman.

DeSantis said: “They will actually take a young boy and castrate the boy. They will take a young girl and do a mastectomy, or they will sterilize her because of the gender dysphoria. There is no evidence that this is something that’s effective medical care.”

He added: “This is wrong. Minors should not be having this type of stuff performed on them.”

Whitehall

Last month, Freedom of Information (FOI) responses revealed that Whitehall departments had spent more than £200,000 on installing mixed-sex toilets.

Female civil servants have reported feeling ‘intimidated’ by a lack of single-sex lavatories after 266 mixed facilities were installed over the last four years to be more welcoming towards transgender people.

The actual cost is likely to be much higher, as a cost breakdown was not provided for 120 of the 266 toilets installed.

The FOI responses were compiled by the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Its Chief Executive, John O’Connell, said: “Gender-neutral toilets go against clear government guidance that there ‘needs to be proper provision of gender-specific toilets’.

Also see:

Female athletes

RFU policy finally prioritises women’s safety

Louisiana becomes 18th state to protect women’s sports from male athletes

British public: ‘Keep trans athletes out of women’s sport’

 

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