By Tony Hoang
The U.S. Department of Education has finalized its position that federal Title IX protections do not extend to discrimination based on gender identity.
This decision follows the Trump administration’s earlier announcement that it would return to enforcing the 2020 Title IX regulations after a federal court struck down the Biden administration’s 2024 rule, which had explicitly strengthened protections for LGBTQ+ students.
The Trump administration’s decision to strip away federal Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students abandons young people who already face disproportionate rates of bullying, harassment and discrimination. It sends a dangerous message that transgender, nonbinary and other LGBTQ+ students can be treated differently simply because of who they are.
Title IX is also a critical tool for protecting students from sexual harassment and sexual assault. The disturbing case at Cornell University, where a former student states she was drugged and sexually assaulted by seven fraternity members in 2024, is a stark reminder of why strong Title IX protections and meaningful accountability matters. Every student deserves to know that when they experience sexual harassment or violence, the institutions and laws meant to protect them will take that responsibility seriously.
Protecting LGBTQ+ students and protecting survivors of sexual assault are not competing priorities. Schools have a responsibility to ensure that every student can learn in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence.
While the federal government retreats from its responsibility to protect students, California must continue leading. Our state’s civil rights protections remain in place, and Equality California will continue fighting to ensure LGBTQ+ students are protected, supported and able to learn safely and authentically.
Every student deserves to be safe at school and to know that the laws meant to protect them apply equally, no matter who they are.
Tony Hoang is the executive director of Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization.