Title IX Changes Impact Gender Equity and Student Protections
Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and included at school. But recent changes to Title IX harm the future of civil rights protections for women, girls, and LGBTQ+ students.
Title IX has played a critical role in advancing gender equity in education, from expanding athletic opportunities for girls to addressing sexual harassment and discrimination. Now, changes made by the federal government on September 28th 2026 are reshaping how these protections are interpreted and enforced.
The updated regulations remove explicit protections for gender identity and reinstating 2020 rules for handling sexual misconduct complaints. These changes include:
Removal of LGBTQ+ Protections: The updated regulations formally remove language that extended Title IX anti-discrimination protections to cover sexual orientation and gender identity.
Definition of Sex: The Department of Education now only two sexes (male and female). Transgender students are not permitted to use campus or school facilities that align with their gender identity.
Reinstatement of 2020 Sexual Misconduct Rules: The action restores the 2020 disciplinary standards for handling campus sexual assault and harassment, which civil rights advocates argue make it harder for survivors to obtain protections, while supporters state it restores clear due process.
The standard for what constitutes sexual harassment is narrowed. Under these rules, schools are only legally obligated to investigate behavior that is "severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive," a higher threshold than the previous administration’s broader definition.
The rule implements courtroom-style administrative reviews for colleges and universities. It mandates live, face-to-face hearings where legal counsel for both the accuser and the accused have the right to cross-examine witnesses and present evidence.
Students should be able to learn without fear of harassment, discrimination, or exclusion. They deserve policies that protect their safety, respect their dignity, and support their ability to thrive.
As federal policy continues to evolve, schools and communities must remain engaged, informed, and committed to equitable educational environments. Protecting civil rights is not simply a matter of compliance; it is an investment in students' futures and the promise of equal opportunity for all.
What can you do?
Contact your federal elected officials – your congressperson and both senators - and urge them to support strong, inclusive civil rights protections in education. By staying informed and taking action, we can help ensure that every student has the opportunity to learn, participate, and thrive.
To find out who your federal legislator is, click HERE.
To contact your Congressperson, click HERE.
To contact PA’s senators, click HERE.
