Lafayette Reporter

WASHINGTON – In a recent op-ed published in Newsweek, Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) criticized the Biden administration's new interpretation of Title IX, warning that it could have detrimental effects on educational opportunities for women and girls.

Kennedy expressed his concerns, stating, "Title IX has helped make the United States home to some of the highest educated, most athletically dominant women on the planet. But that won't stop the Biden administration from destroying Title IX to appease the most radical members of its party."

The senator argued that the new rule under President Biden's administration could allow gender activists to use Title IX against schools that do not comply with a student's pronoun preferences. He emphasized the potential consequences, saying, "Title IX will no longer protect women based on their immutable physical characteristics. Instead, activists can weaponize Title IX to force schools to prioritize the comfortable education of the boy with gender dysphoria above the academic and emotional well-being of the dozens of girls who would rather not share a locker room or learn about puberty alongside biological boys."

Kennedy further criticized President Biden's approach to Title IX, stating, "By interpreting Title IX to be about protecting ‘gender identity’ instead of physical gender, President Biden will place countless women and girls in uncomfortable—or even unsafe—learning environments."

The senator also raised concerns about language restrictions imposed by the new rule, highlighting that teachers could face lawsuits for using grammatically correct pronouns that the federal government deems offensive. Kennedy remarked, "Under the new rule, any teacher who refers to a little boy as ‘he’ instead of ‘they’ in a way that the federal government finds objectively offensive will trigger a lawsuit for discrimination. Grammar teachers might as well cancel the lesson on pronouns now."

In conclusion, Kennedy urged President Biden to reconsider the impact of the administration's actions on Title IX, emphasizing the importance of protecting the progress made for women over the past 50 years. He warned, "President Biden ought to hide his head in a bag if he allows his administration to destroy decades of progress for women by turning Title IX into a weapon that his party can use to tear apart schools that don't support these anti-women gender policies."