(Fox News) President Biden’s proposed changes for Title IX have stirred up such controversy that they’ve generated a record number of public comments from parents, many of whom are concerned about their children’s safety in schools, and what the amendments will mean for women’s sports.
The Biden administration proposed new regulations on the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in schools, to expand the protections to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies recently released a study highlighting what they called the “Dirty Dozen Defects” of the draft. The “defects” the group said has fired parents up most are those that would require schools and colleges to allow biological males to compete in girls’ sports and use bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their “gender identity.”
Monday marks the last day of public comment period for the Title IX proposals. As of Friday, it received a record-breaking number of comments for the Department of Education – over 184,000 as of Sunday – from individuals sounding off on the rule to redefine sex.
“For fifty years, Title IX has provided important protections and opportunities for women by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex,” one commenter wrote. “While parents across the country are demanding the rejection of ‘woke’ policies, the Department of Education instead has chosen to hijack Title IX to force gender ideology on children without their parents’ knowledge or approval.”
Students from James Madison University take part in a rally outside the Education Department in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2006. (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)
“Your rule changes will destroy girl’s sports. It will no longer exist. Your rule changes will subject girls to boys in their private spaces. Your rule changes will perpetuate the spread of confused children who claim to be another gender to fit in,” another parent wrote, saying, they “can’t even publicly comment on this issue without fear of retaliation.”
Yael Levin-Sheldon, technology and communication officer for No Left Turn in Education, said she commented through the portal provided by the Defense of Freedom Institute, which offered four main categories – parental rights, women’s sports, due process, and freedom of speech. She said she submitted a comment through all four.
“The obvious concern I would say is that Title IX was made specifically to make a space for women so adding gender identity to it pretty much voids it,” Levin-Sheldon told Fox News Digital.
“As a mom… the clear usurpation of parental rights that basically a child… the schools are assuming the responsibility of in loco parentis and acting as if they are the parents or legal guardians of the child and will be able to hide anything they want from the parents,” she continued.
Individuals of all ages sounded off on the controversial provisions.
“For fifty years, Title IX has provided important protections and opportunities for women by prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex,” one commenter wrote. “While parents across the country are demanding the rejection of ‘woke’ policies, the Department of Education instead has chosen to hijack Title IX to force gender ideology on children without their parents’ knowledge or approval. This proposed rule is a lawless interpretation and is a complete overreach by the Department of Education. As a 71-year-old woman who has cherished Title IX, this is abhorrent and must be stopped. Please do the right thing and oppose the Biden Regime.”
U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona deliver remarks during an event for the 2022 National and State Teachers of the Year in the East Room of the White House on April 27, 2022, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Others threatened to file lawsuits.
“You are using non-discrimination laws in an illegal and unconstitutional way, and if this hits my kids’ school, we will file a lawsuit,” one user wrote.
“I think that it’s an absolute certainly that is the administration proceeds with the proposed rule as written… particular as it regards to gender identity but also as it applies to many of the due process provision changes, there will absolutely be litigation,” Defense of Freedom Institute for Policy Studies President Robert Eitel told Fox News Digital. “And litigation will be filed not only by students with appropriate standing but also the states.”
