You Get No Say: Trump Administration Abandons Rule Protecting LGBTQ+ Kids and Survivors of Sexual Assault in School Settings, Denying Public Any Chance to Weigh In

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of its long-running obsession with attacking LGBTQ+ students, the Trump administration announced today that - effective tomorrow, Sept. 29 - it is wiping a Biden-era Title IX rule off the books - a rule that clarified the scope of nondiscrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as for pregnant and parenting students, and strengthened protections for all students across educational activities and programs.

Specifically, this move puts back in place rules for colleges and universities from the first Trump administration that suppress the voices of survivors of rape and sexual assault and make it easier for their perpetrators to get away with their actions. The former rules were resoundingly denounced by sexual assault and abuse advocates and survivors who, unlike the Trump administration, actually care about the safety of women and girls.

Moreover, in yet another display of contempt for the rule of law and democratic governance, the administration has denied the public any opportunity to comment on the dangers of returning to these prior rules, and has announced that the changes will go into effect tomorrow. In its typical Orwellian fashion, the administration claims that "engaging in public notice and comment would be contrary to public interest."

"Title IX is, quite simply, about protecting students and ensuring that they are safe from abuse, harassment, and discrimination while they pursue their education. But Donald Trump and his cronies aren't interested in any of that," said Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign. "Donald Trump's Department of Education has completely lost sight of that mission. Instead of enforcing protections for students, they're rescinding them. They don't care if sexual harassment and assault go unaddressed. And they're happy to strip funding away from school districts and states that are actually trying to keep students safe. We know who will be hurt: women, girls, and others who are vulnerable to sexual harassment, assault and abuse - including LGBTQ+ students. The fact that they're dropping this rule into place abruptly, without a comment period, denying families, educators, loved ones and the students themselves a say in how they should be treated, shows how little they care about the safety of our students."

"This is a monstrous injustice, and it drives home how essential it is that we take action at the polls this November to start bringing some accountability to an administration that has turned its back on the very students Title IX was written to protect."

The Department of Education under the Trump administration has abandoned its duty to protect girls and women from sex discrimination and sexual violence in schools. Despite receiving a record number of complaints, as of this spring, the Department had resolved zero complaints of sexual violence or sexual harassment since taking office. Instead, they have ignored the very real pending complaints before them and have proactively targeted schools for protecting LGBTQ+ students.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) people, with more than 4 million members and supporters. The HRC Foundation (a 501(c)(3)) works to ensure LGBTQ+ people are safe, seen and supported where it matters most: at school, at work and in every community across the country. From the courtroom to the classroom, from Congress to corporate America, HRC and the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling, and action-working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom and belonging for all LGBTQ+ people.