This blog originally appeared at THE HILL.

The governor of Texas declares that the state will disregard the Biden administration’s Title IX revisions, deeming them “illegal.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) announced on Monday that his state will refuse to comply with the Biden administration’s extensive revisions to Title IX, a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in government-funded schools.

In a letter addressed to President Biden, Abbott strongly criticized the amended regulations, particularly those offering enhanced protections for transgender students. He labeled these changes as “illegal” and condemned them as a “clumsy attempt to impose leftist ideology onto Title IX,” asserting that they surpass the President’s authority.

In his letter, Abbott accused the administration of rewriting Title IX to compel schools to treat boys as girls and accept students’ self-declared gender identities, arguing that such actions exceed the President’s constitutional powers.

A growing number of states led by Republican governors have expressed opposition to the finalized Title IX rules issued by the Education Department earlier this month. Education officials in Florida, Louisiana, Wyoming, South Carolina, and Oklahoma have publicly criticized the Biden administration’s alterations to Title IX, contending that the new policies undermine the rights of women and girls by broadening the law’s definition of sex discrimination to include gender identity.

Abbott affirmed in his letter that he will direct the Texas Education Agency to disregard the new policies, citing concerns about their compatibility with Texas state law.

“I am directing the Texas Education Agency to disregard your unlawful mandate,” Abbott declared. “Your revision of Title IX not only exceeds your constitutional authority but also disregards laws that I signed to safeguard the integrity of women’s sports by preventing men from competing against female athletes. Texas will vigorously defend these laws and oppose your abuse of authority.”

More than a dozen Republican-led states have passed laws that prevent transgender students from using restrooms and locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity or prohibit teachers and students from acknowledging a transgender individual’s chosen name and pronouns. Compliance with such laws may run counter to the new Title IX regulations, a senior administration official informed The Hill, particularly if it fosters a hostile environment.

In Texas, Abbott enacted two laws aimed at barring transgender women from participating in sports teams consistent with their gender identity in public schools and universities. While the Education Department introduced a proposal last April governing athletic eligibility that would prohibit policies like those in Texas, the Biden administration has not yet finalized the rule.

This blog originally appeared at THE HILL.

Governor DeSantis reaffirms Florida’s stance against Biden administration’s updated Title IX regulations, citing concerns over state sovereignty and due process rights. His declaration signals a potential clash between federal directives and state autonomy in matters of education policy.

On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) firmly declared his state’s stance against the recently revealed alterations to Title IX by the Biden administration.

In a video shared on the social platform X, DeSantis stated, “Florida outright rejects President Biden’s endeavor to amend Title IX. We stand firm in our refusal to comply and will actively oppose these changes.”

He emphasized, “We will not permit Joe Biden to interject men into women’s affairs nor undermine parental rights. Florida will not tolerate any misuse of constitutional authority to impose these policies upon us.”

Last week, the Biden administration unveiled finalized adjustments to Title IX, incorporating protections for transgender students into the federal law combating sex-based discrimination. These revisions are slated to become effective in early August.

Education Secretary Miguel Cardona highlighted, “These concluding regulations uphold the spirit of Title IX, ensuring that all students across our nation have access to schools that prioritize safety, inclusivity, and the safeguarding of their rights.”

DeSantis has faced criticism from LGBTQ advocates in the past for enacting state laws perceived as detrimental to their community, including the contentious “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which restricts discourse on LGBTQ topics within Florida’s public school system.

Last year, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the nation, joined forces with a Florida-based LGBTQ advocacy organization to issue a cautionary advisory against traveling to Florida.

The joint travel advisory from HRC and Equality Florida expressed concerns regarding Florida’s array of laws and policies targeting fundamental freedoms and rights, which collectively pose significant risks to the well-being and safety of individuals considering relocating to or visiting the state.

Brandon Wolf, the national press secretary for HRC, conveyed in an emailed statement to The Hill, “Politicians in Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and elsewhere are already rallying to oppose crucial protections for students in American schools.”

Wolf criticized these “MAGA politicians” for prioritizing theatrics and divisive rhetoric over safeguarding the needs of their state’s students, warning that non-compliance with Title IX could result in detrimental consequences for schools, including substantial loss of funding that should be allocated towards facilitating academic success.

Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida’s public policy director, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that Governor DeSantis cannot disregard federal protections designed to ensure the well-being of students and families, including LGBTQ students, survivors of sexual assault and harassment, and pregnant students. Maurer affirmed their commitment to collaborating with parents across the state to create an educational environment where every student can thrive.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education reaffirmed the department’s commitment to upholding the Title IX guarantee of nondiscrimination in schools, emphasizing that federally funded schools must adhere to the final Title IX regulations to receive federal funds.

In a memo dated Thursday and shared with The Hill, Florida’s Commissioner of Education, Manny Diaz Jr., asserted that Florida will vigorously oppose the changes to Title IX. Diaz criticized the Biden administration for what he perceived as an attempt to distort the statute, accusing them of disregarding Congress’s clear directive to prevent discrimination based on biological sex.

This blog originally appeared at THE WASHINGTON POST.

Arizona House votes to repeal Civil War-era abortion ban. Three GOP members defected to side with Democrats in the vote. Arizona’s governor pledges to sign if approved by the Senate.

On Wednesday, the Arizona House made a significant move by voting to repeal a long-standing ban on almost all abortions, dating back to the Civil War era, with a potential effective date as early as June 8. The legislation is now on its way to the state Senate, where it could receive final approval as soon as next week.

Originally enacted in 1864, the abortion law briefly regained relevance after the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 but was swiftly halted by judicial intervention. However, on April 9, the state’s highest court revived the law, sparking nationwide controversy and causing considerable political concern among Republicans. Many fear that the reinstated ban may negatively impact their electoral prospects this year, including in the upcoming presidential race.

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

Greg Abbott criticized a teacher for wearing dresses to school events, suggesting that the act was an attempt to promote the normalization of gender nonconformity.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has expressed his intention to “eliminate” transgender and gender non-conforming educators from the educational system in his state. This declaration potentially conflicts with a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals in the workplace, including on the basis of gender identity.

During a speech at the Young Conservatives of Texas convention in Dallas last Friday, Abbott cited the case of Rachmad Tjachyadi, a former teacher in Lewisville, Texas. Tjachyadi resigned in March after facing harassment from Chaya Raichik, an influencer known for spreading anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments on social media under the username “Libs of TikTok.”

Abbott recounted the situation, stating, “They had a high school teacher who was a man who would go to school dressed as a woman in a dress, high heels, and makeup.” He then questioned the impact on students’ focus in the classroom, implying that such attire might distract from the subject being taught.

Abbott persisted, emphasizing, “This individual, identifying as a man, adopting the attire of a woman within a Texas public high school, seeks to promote the acceptance of such behavior as normal.” He firmly stated, “This behavior is not acceptable, and it’s precisely what we aim to eradicate in Texas.”

In March, Raichik shared photos of Tjachyadi dressed in feminine attire during school functions, baselessly alleging a “fetish for wearing women’s clothing.”

These posts circulated among anti-LGBTQ+ circles, including Abbott, who seized on the “controversy” to advocate for school voucher programs. In an X post, he declared, “No parent should be compelled by the state to enroll their child in this school.” (Critics argue that such vouchers divert public funds away from public schools to private institutions, which may reject certain students.)

Despite over 20,000 signatures on a petition supporting Tjachyadi and an internal investigation by the Lewisville Independent School District finding no policy violations, he chose to resign. Parents lamented that targeting him ultimately disadvantaged students by depriving them of a dedicated educator.

Abbott’s vow to eradicate the presence of transgender and gender non-conforming educators contradicts the 2020 Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, which deemed anti-LGBTQ+ workplace discrimination unlawful under federal sex-based discrimination laws.

Nevertheless, Matt Rinaldi, the chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, echoed Abbott’s stance, affirming via X, “@GregAbbott_TX is absolutely correct.”

Reflecting on Abbott’s comments, trans investigative journalist Erin Reed remarked, “Many are observing whether the Republican Party will heavily rely on anti-trans politics leading up to the 2024 elections. This indicates that at least some factions in Texas might do so. However, history shows that such campaigning failed resoundingly in the 2022 and 2023 elections.”

Abbott has a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ actions

During his governorship, Abbott has made several attempts to classify gender-affirming care as a form of child abuse, aiming to empower the state to remove transgender children from supportive families. However, the state supreme court has intervened, halting the implementation of this order for numerous families that were under investigation and supportive of their transgender children.

Under Abbott’s leadership, the state has prohibited doctors from offering gender-affirming care to transgender minors, despite widespread support for such care from major medical associations in the U.S. Additionally, transgender students are barred from participating in school sports according to their gender identity, and the state government has even sought access to private medical records of transgender teenagers.

Abbott also signed a ban on drag performances last June, but by September, a judge deemed the law unconstitutional. Furthermore, he endorsed legislation banning “sexually explicit” materials in school libraries, which has been used to target LGBTQ+ literature. Additionally, he supported a law prohibiting local governments from implementing anti-discrimination measures for LGBTQ+ individuals, and he signed off on a ban on diversity programs at public universities, resulting in the elimination of LGBTQ+ spaces and HIV testing programs at these institutions.

These discriminatory policies led LGBTQ+ advocacy groups to petition for a U.N. investigation into Texas for potential human rights violations against the LGBTQ+ community.

This blog originally appeared at EYE WITNESS NEWS.

In Houston, Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has resolved a dispute with a children’s hospital in Washington State. Paxton had been seeking data regarding Texas patients possibly accessing gender-affirming treatment, a practice prohibited in Texas. The attorney general’s office, along with Seattle Children’s Hospital, declared a resolution on Monday. Paxton will abandon his pursuit of information on transgender patients from Texas, while the hospital will relinquish its operating license in the state. Additionally, hospital officials testified that they neither treat transgender youth from Texas on-site nor remotely.

A state law passed in September prohibits gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgery. Following a settlement with Seattle Children’s Hospital, Paxton issued the following statement:

“Seattle Children’s Hospital appeared to violate Texas law and initially attempted to avoid responsibility during the investigation. Upon our inquiries, they chose to exit Texas and forego conducting business here. Let this reaffirm our stance: medical practitioners in Texas must adhere to our regulations. We staunchly defend children in Texas from potentially harmful, experimental ‘gender transition’ interventions that could lead to significant adverse effects.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other leading medical associations advocate for providing transgender adolescents with access to gender-affirming medical care. Meanwhile, Paxton’s office is embroiled in a legal dispute regarding whether the state can initiate child abuse inquiries against parents who have facilitated such care for their children.

This blog originally appeared at LGBTQ NATION.

One expert warned that if the bill were to pass, it would have a “catastrophic” impact on Iraq’s relations with the West.

Last week, Iraq’s Parliament deferred a scheduled vote on a harsh anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that could have led to the death penalty for same-sex acts. The proposed bill, intended as an amendment to an existing anti-prostitution law, was slated as the second item on the agenda during last Monday’s parliamentary session, as reported by Reuters. However, due to time constraints and disagreements over amendments, the vote was postponed, as indicated by two sources.

Beyond prescribing the death penalty or life imprisonment for same-sex relations, the bill also stipulates a minimum seven-year prison term for “promoting homosexuality,” a term left undefined in the legislation. Furthermore, it specifically targets transgender women, proposing up to three years in prison and fines for “imitating women,” according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).

While consensual gay sex is not explicitly prohibited by current law in Iraq, vague “morality” clauses in the country’s penal code are often used to target LGBTQ+ individuals. A joint report by HRW and the Iraqi LGBTQ+ rights group IraQueer in March 2022 highlighted widespread violence against LGBTQ+ individuals by police and other armed groups in the predominantly Muslim nation, with perpetrators often going unpunished. Iraq was among five Middle Eastern and North African countries examined in a 2023 report, which explored how state actors and private individuals exploit social media and dating apps to entrap and extort LGBTQ+ individuals.

Last August, Iraq’s media regulator banned the term “homosexuality,” mandating that traditional and social media platforms replace it with “sexual deviance.”

The bill to amend Iraq’s “Law on Combatting Prostitution” was introduced in the same month by independent Member of Parliament Raad Al-Maliki. Al-Maliki argued that the legislation was necessary to “preserve the integrity of Iraqi society from deviance and the propagation of ‘paraphilia’ [abnormal sexual impulses] that have spread worldwide.”

Rasha Younes, senior LGBT rights researcher at HRW, expressed concern about the proposed anti-LGBT law, stating, “Iraq’s proposed anti-LGBT law would endanger the lives of Iraqis who already face a hostile environment for being LGBT. Iraqi lawmakers are sending a disturbing message to LGBT individuals that their speech is criminal and their lives are expendable.”

According to HRW, the proposed bill not only contradicts nondiscrimination and privacy protections enshrined in the Iraqi constitution but also violates international human rights law.

Reuters noted that the postponement of last Monday’s vote coincided with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s scheduled meeting with President Joe Biden in Washington. The meeting was reportedly aimed at discussing increased U.S. investment in Iraq.

Simultaneously, diplomats from three Western countries informed Reuters that they had urged Iraqi lawmakers not to pass the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. One senior diplomat remarked, “It would be very difficult to justify working closely with such a state at home. We were very, very direct: if this law is passed in its current form, it would have catastrophic consequences for our bilateral business, trade relations.”