Ohio School Board Denies Title IX LGBTQ+ Protections
The Board approves the resolution by a vote of 10 to 7, with 1 abstention.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday rejecting President Joe Biden’s amendment to Title IX, which is intended to protect LGBTQ students from discrimination.
The Board approves the resolution by a vote of 10 to 7, with 1 abstention.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration announced it would expand Title IX protections for LGBTQ students. Title IX was a landmark law passed in 1972 that made it illegal to discriminate against girls or girls’ sports teams in public education.
“That’s why men don’t want to be in women’s sports or in women’s bathrooms,” said Brendan Shea, who proposed the resolution in October.
Under this resolution, school districts will allow parents to ask parents when their children “question their gender identity,” want to be identified with a different name or pronoun, or other issues related to gender identity. I need to tell you that.
The resolution also calls on legislatures to approve a ban on teaching students in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity.
The expanded definition of Title IX requires schools to allow transgender students access to bathrooms, changing rooms, and sports teams. It was to better protect students from discrimination based on
Supporters urged the board to vote on the bill, saying it could prevent schools from protecting parents when children identify as transgender.
Opponents of the measure argue that transgender youth will be harmed by going out when they are not ready to tell their parents, and that it will increase bullying in schools because it is not a sheltered class. is doing.
The vote was criticized by several lawmakers in Ohio.
“This State Board of Education resolution is a vicious and harmful attempt to attack and isolate transgender children,” said Rep. Michael Skindell (D-Lakewood). “It is our duty as elected officials to protect all Ohio students, but this resolution is actively harming them. To protect, we support the proposed significant changes to federal regulations that expand Title IX.”
“As elected officials, we have a duty to prioritize the safety and well-being of all students. No,” said Phil Robinson (D-Solon). ).
Some within the LGBTQ community feel a precedent is being set in the state.
Lisa McClemont said, “It hurts to allow abuse to happen to someone who was born with a skin that doesn’t belong… Free the world.”
Fear at McLymont is a social pressure many students may face.
“It’s just another thing people who don’t fit that parameter have to fight to keep our jaws up in the world,” she said.
Ohio schools that do not go along with Biden’s amendment risk losing federal funding for school feeding programs.
Under the resolution, it directs interim superintendents to send letters to all school districts in Ohio within 21 days explaining the board’s stance on this issue.
The resolution, specifically the letter, is “intended to inform schools and school districts, not to compel them to take any particular action.”
Basically, resolutions are not laws and are unenforceable.
A spokesperson for Columbus City Schools said the school district opposed the resolution, calling it “outrageous” and “absolutely disgusting.”
https://www.10tv.com/article/news/education/ohio-board-of-education-rejects-title-ix-lgbtq-protections/530-c2c3b3f0-f73d-468a-98bc-80414674a509 Ohio School Board Denies Title IX LGBTQ+ Protections