Arden W. Barlow’s Post

🚨 Important Update on Title IX 🚨 The U.S. Department of Education is preparing to release updates to Title IX regulations that will explicitly protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. These updates mark a significant milestone after over 50 years and aim to ensure that students are not excluded from sex-segregated spaces according to their gender identity. This move is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by LGBTQI+ students in schools. According to GLSEN's 2021 National School Climate Survey, 83% of LGBTQI+ students have encountered bullying, harassment, discrimination, or assault in educational settings. While these updates are a positive step, it's important to note that they do not currently extend to school sports participation for transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students. In the meantime, states and school boards have the power to implement immediate changes by adopting inclusive policies. Let's take action today! Encourage your representatives to support these Title IX changes, fostering safer and more inclusive environments for LGBTQI+ youth. #TitleIX #LGBTQIA #InclusiveEducation #SafeSchools #Equality #LGBTQRights #ProtectTransStudents #EducationReform #SpeakUp #TakeAction Link to take action: https://lnkd.in/gSHq2BGU

📣 Today marks a significant victory for LGBTQI+ students across the nation! The U.S. Department of Education has finalized a rule that clarifies that Title IX protects LGBTQI+ students from discrimination and other abuse in school. This decision reverses many of the previous administration's legally unsound and dangerously restrictive provisions, signaling a crucial step forward in safeguarding the rights of ALL students. In response, Lambda Legal's Senior Attorney and Director of the Non-Binary and Transgender Rights Project, Sasha Buchert, shared this statement: “We applaud the Biden administration's new rule that appropriately clarifies that Title IX's civil rights protections cover LGBTQI+ students, intersex students, as well as survivors and pregnant and parenting students across race and gender identity. Schools must be places where students can learn and thrive free of harassment, discrimination, and other abuse. We look forward to helping to ensure that these properly clarified protections of Title IX are enforced." Let’s be clear: discrimination has no place in our schools. 🗣️ Read our press release at https://lnkd.in/eRnh-m8G. #TitleIX #LGBTQrights #EqualityInEducation

Students should be able to attend school without fear of discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Thank you President Joe Biden for clarifying this rule. However, clarity is not enough. LGBTQIA+ rights are under continuous attack by state legislatures across the county. Further, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court have upheld gender affirming medical care bans for transgender and nonbinary youth and have hinted at their willingness to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. We need codified protections, particularly but not limited to, an Equal Rights Amendment. For example, in Tennessee the General Assembly is considering rejecting nearly $2 billion in federal funding so that it would be able to circumnavigate the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent versions, to allow public schools to discriminate against youth including those who are LGBTQ+. Public education is already considered significantly underfunded in Tennessee by several billion dollars. This year, they have passed bills mandating school officials to out LGBTQ+ youth to their parents without regard to the high percentage of those youth who may be a victim of child abuse. They also have no intention of slowing down their attack otherwise known as the "Slate of Hate". The promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness belongs to everyone, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Let's give them a future to thrive, not one where they fight to survive.

🚨 Demand Full Inclusion for Transgender and Intersex Students! 🚨 Tell your Senator you support strong civil rights protections for transgender and intersex students! 🏳️⚧️ Trans students and their allies need robust federal rules that reinforce their rights under Title IX—the federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs and expands access to athletic programs. The Biden Administration has taken historic steps toward strengthening these protections by finalizing regulations that reinforce prohibitions on discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. However, anti-trans members of Congress voted last week to strip students of these protections, and now all eyes are on the Senate. Tell your Senator to support strong Title IX rules that reinforce the rights of trans, nonbinary, and intersex students in all educational spaces and programs, whether they're in the classroom, in the restroom, or on the team. ### Why this matters: - **Equity and Safety:** Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students deserve the same access to education as their peers. This includes respect in their classrooms, access to appropriate school facilities, and inclusion in athletics and other gender-separated programs. - **Youth Mental Health:** Transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students experience significantly increased risk of suicide, which is exacerbated by high-profile attacks on their educational opportunities. A robust Title IX rule will reinforce federal protections against harassment and exclusion based on their gender identity. - **Anti-Trans Attacks on Title IX:** Anti-trans lawmakers in the House and Senate have made it clear that they will vote to overturn the Biden Administration's rules reinforcing the rights of students to learn free from discrimination. Lawmakers must push back against the radical anti-trans agenda being advanced by their peers. ### Take action now: - **Contact Your Senator:** Urge them to support the Biden Administration's rulemaking strengthening Title IX's protection of trans, nonbinary, and intersex students. Every student deserves a safe and respectful learning environment in which they are free to be themselves. - **Spread the Word:** Share this alert with your network. The more people who voice their support, the stronger our message will be. As anti-trans attacks continue to escalate at the federal level, take decisive action to ensure transgender, nonbinary, and intersex students have equal access to educational opportunities. Children deserve affirming, safe, and inclusive schools so that they can thrive. #DemandFullInclusion #TitleIX #TransRights #IntersexRights #ProtectTransStudents #EqualityForAll #LGBTQRights

From article: "Opponents say HB 8 could prevent students from discussing gender identity, sexual orientation, or various family structures in the classroom. “This is not only ostracizing to students who are openly queer, gender-diverse, or come from family systems outside of the cisgender and heterosexual standard, but it does not allow for students who may be questioning their gender or sexuality to see themselves represented in classroom materials or discussions unless their classmates’ parents find it acceptable,” said Liam Strausbaugh, a staff member at Ohio’s chapter for the National Association of Social Workers. Some opponents worry the bill could lead to a chilling effect in classrooms.  “When kids discuss their families, how are children who have queer parents supposed to discuss their families when that is not supposed to be a topic mentioned?” asked TransOhio’s Board Secretary Dara Adkison. Golski is concerned this could keep certain books off school shelves. “When we censor certain stories from classrooms and libraries, we aren’t just taking away the chance for some kids to see their lives and experiences reflected back at them,” she said. “We’re taking away crucial opportunities for those who don’t share the same experiences to develop empathy and understanding for others.” and "The bill has received significantly more opponent testimony in House and Senate committees. Twenty-six people submitted opponent testimony and three people submitted proponent testimony for Tuesday’s meeting.' https://lnkd.in/g6Zq2d2N #education #curriculum #LBGTQcurriculum #LGBTQcommunity #ohio

The governor of California has just signed the bill mentioned below, which bans schools from making rules that parents must be informed if their child claims to be transgender. The #family is the bedrock of the State, not vice versa. #Parents are and must remain the primary child-raisers - not government or education officials - for the health and protection of children. State regulation should be limited to preventing negligent, violent or abusive parenting. This move in CA involves serious social engineering and we must be watchful that it does not find its way into other major democracies, if it hasn't already. #childprotection #parenting #transgender #ethics #socialengineering #criticaltheory #familyethics https://lnkd.in/eju5rvJ6

Helpful to consider within the context of #equality , #inclusion , #wellbeing , #mentalhealth , #senseofbelonging and #attendance . Key elements of a Surrey County Council Healthy Schools approach.

Good news! The Department of Education issued new guidance today that clarifies the scope of non-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in educational activities. This is important for LGBTQIA+ youth who simply want to be themselves at school, without fear of discrimination. There is still much work to be done! Transgender youth need urgent protection to have access to critical healthcare and to be able to fully participate in school sports. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDF26_wJ.